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Papers, please! The effect of birth registration on child labor and education in early 20th century USA

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  • Fagernäs, Sonja

Abstract

A birth certificate establishes a child's legal identity and age, but few quantitative estimates of the significance of birth registration exist. Birth registration laws were enacted by U.S. states in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Using 1910–1930 census data, this study finds that minimum working age legislation was twice as effective in reducing under-aged employment if children had been born with a birth registration law, with positive implications for school attendance. There is some evidence that registration laws also improved the enforcement of schooling laws for younger children. A retrospective analysis with the 1960 census shows that the long-term effect of registration laws was to increase educational attainment by approximately 0.1years.

Suggested Citation

  • Fagernäs, Sonja, 2014. "Papers, please! The effect of birth registration on child labor and education in early 20th century USA," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 63-92.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:exehis:v:52:y:2014:i:c:p:63-92
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eeh.2013.09.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Inwood, Kris & Minns, Chris & Summerfield, Fraser, 2019. "Occupational income scores and immigrant assimilation. Evidence from the Canadian census," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 114-122.
    2. Wendy Hunter, 2016. "Formalizing safety nets and the requirements to obtain them: An increased role for identity documents in the Global South," WIDER Working Paper Series 112, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Wendy Hunter, 2016. "Formalizing safety nets and the requirements to obtain them: An increased role for identity documents in the Global South," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2016-112, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Hwang, Sam Il Myoung & Squires, Munir, 2024. "Linked samples and measurement error in historical US census data," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Birth registration; Child labor; Compulsory schooling; Legal enforcement; Institutions; Economic history;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N31 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N32 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
    • N41 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N42 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-

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