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Toiling children in India : the gender dimension

Author

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  • Kumar, Rajnish
  • Mitra, Arup
  • Murayama, Mayumi

Abstract

Child labour in several low income households is rather pursued for gaining experience and at times for meagre incomes, which are possibly spent on household food expenditure. Though the contribution made by the child labour to the overall wellbeing does not turn out to be substantial, without child labour these households would have been much worse off than the households which can afford not to have child labour. The probability of working is higher for a male child compared to a girl child. This is because the girl children are often engaged in household activities and even when they are engaged in income earning jobs they are shown as helpers. Parents' income as such may not be having a positive impact on child's education rather it is the educational level of the parents which matters in determining whether the child would go to school and continue her/his education. To substantiate the gender bias, the probability of falling ill among the girl children is found to be higher compared to the boys. Parents' educational attainments beyond a certain level again tend to reduce the probability of falling ill.

Suggested Citation

  • Kumar, Rajnish & Mitra, Arup & Murayama, Mayumi, 2012. "Toiling children in India : the gender dimension," IDE Discussion Papers 352, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
  • Handle: RePEc:jet:dpaper:dpaper352
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Uma Sarada Kambhampati, 2009. "Child Schooling and Work Decisions in India: The Role of Household and Regional Gender Equity," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(4), pages 77-112.
    2. Kaivan Munshi & Mark Rosenzweig, 2006. "Traditional Institutions Meet the Modern World: Caste, Gender, and Schooling Choice in a Globalizing Economy," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 96(4), pages 1225-1252, September.
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    1. repec:ilo:ilowps:480686 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Jaivir Singh & Deb Kusum Das & Kumar Abhishek, 2022. "Specific Human Capital and Skills in Indian Manufacturing: Observed Wage and Tenure Relationships from a Worker Survey," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 65(4), pages 1007-1028, December.
    3. Nazmunnessa Bakth & Syed Hasanuzzaman, 2023. "Temporary environmental migration and child truancy: An investigation among hard-to-reach families in Bangladesh," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 25(1), pages 152-169, June.
    4. Jaivir Singh & Deb Kusum Das & Kumar Abhishek, 2020. "Specific Human Capital and Skills in Indian Manufacturing: Observed Wage and Tenure Relationships from a Worker Survey," Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) Working Paper 397, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), New Delhi, India.
    5. Mitra, Arup, & Verick, Sher., 2013. "Youth employment and unemployment : an Indian perspective," ILO Working Papers 994806863402676, International Labour Organization.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    India; Child labor; Gender; Household; Slums; Education; Health;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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