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A cross-national study of child labor and its determinants

Author

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  • Joelle Saad-Lessler

    (Long Island University, USA)

Abstract

This paper investigates the determinants of global child labor among countries with non-zero child labor rates. I find that the average child labor rate across countries rises with the size of the rural population, female labor force participation and fertility, whereas it falls with increases in GDP per capita, the share of public educational expenditures in gross national income, life expectancy and the share of the labor force in industry or agriculture. Over time, as GDP per capita rises and as trade expands, the child labor rate falls, whereas increases in the size of the rural population and in the female participation rate lead to increases in the child labor rate. Results indicate that the most effective ways to combat child labor are to increase GDP per capita, improve life expectancy, expand trade, increase spending on education and raise the GDP growth rate. Classification-JEL: J20, P51

Suggested Citation

  • Joelle Saad-Lessler, 2010. "A cross-national study of child labor and its determinants," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 44(1), pages 325-344, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:jda:journl:vol.44:year:2011:issue1:pp:325-344
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ralitza Dimova & Gil S. Epstein & Ira N. Gang, 2015. "Migration, Transfers and Child Labor," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(3), pages 735-747, August.
    2. Polyxeni Kechagia & Theodore Metaxas, 2023. "Capital Inflows and Working Children in Developing Countries: An Empirical Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Sumbal Shahid & Rana Ejaz Ali Khan, 2020. "Informal Sector Economy, Child Labor and Economic Growth in Developing Economies: Exploring the Interlinkages," Asian Development Policy Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 8(4), pages 277-287, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Child labor; fertility; GDP; female labor force;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General
    • P51 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems - - - Comparative Analysis of Economic Systems

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