Changing Patterns of Child Labout around the World since 1950: The Roles of Income Growth, Parental Literacy and Agriculture

Summary: This study explores why and how child labour has declined over time, why child labour persists, and how it may be combated in the future.

It specifically examines the roles of rising per capita income, improving adult literacy, and economic transformation from a rural agrarian economy to an urban industrialised base.

The findings show that child labour is strongly tied to the level of household income. However, child labour becomes less responsive to additional increases in per capita income as the level of per capita income rises.

The sensitivity of child labour participation rates to adult literacy rates and the share of agriculture in total production suggest other avenues by which policy could reduce child labour. Policies that raise the value of child time in school relative to work, such as tying income transfers to child attendance or schooling success could decrease incentives to send children to work; and adult literacy programmes or other outreach programmes that advertise the importance of education may lead parents to place greater value on their children's schooling.

Owner: V Gunnarsson, PF Orazem, G Sedlacekpdf: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/SOCIALPROTECTION/Resources/0510.pdf

Organisation: 

Countries

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