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Child Labor in Africa: A Comparative Study

Author

Listed:
  • Sudharshan Canagarajah

    (World Bank)

  • Helena Skyt Nielsen

    (Aarhus School of Business in Denmark)

Abstract

This article analyzes the determinants of child labor in Africa as inferred from recent empirical studies. The empirical analysis is based on five country studies undertaken in three different African countries, namely, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Zambia. Some support is found for the popular belief of poverty as a determinant of child labor; however, other determinants are of similar importance. Among school costs, transportation costs have the greatest effect on child labor and school attendance, whereas the hypothesis of imperfect capital markets and that of household composition generally find some support.

Suggested Citation

  • Sudharshan Canagarajah & Helena Skyt Nielsen, 2001. "Child Labor in Africa: A Comparative Study," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 575(1), pages 71-91, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:575:y:2001:i:1:p:71-91
    DOI: 10.1177/000271620157500105
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. 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.

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