Trade-off between child labour and schooling in Bangladesh: the role of parents' education
Journal
Monash University Department of Economics discussion papersVolume
21/11Pagination
1 - 40Location
MelbourneISSN
1441-5429Language
engNotes
The paper examines whether there is any trade-off between child labour hours and child schooling outcomes. By drawing on Bangladesh National Child Labour Survey data, we find that children’s work, even in limited amounts, does adversely affect child human capital. This is reflected in reduced school attendance and age-adjusted school attendance rates. We find that parents do not have identical preferences towards boys’ and girls’ schooling decisions. While both, educated mother and father shifts the trade-off towards girls’ schooling as opposed to market work, the differential impact of mother’s education on girls is significantly larger. These conclusions persist even after allowing for sample selection into child’s work. Our results intensify the call for better enforcement of compulsory schooling for children.Publication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2012, Monash University
