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Parental altruism and child labor: examining the historical evidence from the United States

Author

Listed:
  • V. Bhaskar

    (Department of Economics, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT UK)

  • Bishnupriya Gupta

    (Department of Economics, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL UK)

Abstract

Parsons and Goldin (in Econ Inq 637–659, 1989) use the US Commissioner of Labor Survey of (1890) to argue that many American parents sacrificed the future earnings of their children by sending them to work rather than to school. We analyze the same data and argue that parental choices were dictated by constraints rather than the desire to exploit child labor opportunities. We also find significant income effects on child labor supply, indicating that affluence played an important part in the decline of child labor. The coexistence of positive assets with child labor is not inconsistent with parental altruism, indicating instead a failure of perfect two-sided altruism.

Suggested Citation

  • V. Bhaskar & Bishnupriya Gupta, 2012. "Parental altruism and child labor: examining the historical evidence from the United States," Cliometrica, Journal of Historical Economics and Econometric History, Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC), vol. 6(3), pages 249-266, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:afc:cliome:v:6:y:2012:i:3:p:249-266
    DOI: 10.1007/s11698-011-0073-4
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Child labor; Parental altruism; Two-sided altruism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • N31 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913

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