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Gender Bias in Agricultural Child Labor: Evidence from Survey Design Experiments

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  • Jose Galdo
  • Ana C Dammert
  • Degnet Abebaw

Abstract

Agricultural labor accounts for the largest share of child labor worldwide. Yet, measurement of farm labor statistics is challenging due to its inherent seasonality, variable and irregular work schedules, and the varying saliencies of individuals’ work activities. The problem is further complicated by the presence of widespread gender stratification of work and social lives. This study reports the findings of three randomized survey design interventions over the agricultural coffee calendar in rural Ethiopia to address whether response by proxy rather than by self-report has effects on the measurement of child labor statistics within and across seasons. While the estimates do not report differences for boys across all seasons, the analysis shows sizable self/proxy discrepancies in child labor statistics for girls. Overall, the results highlight concerns on the use of survey proxy respondents in agricultural labor, particularly for girls. The main findings have important implications for policymakers about data collection in rural areas in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Jose Galdo & Ana C Dammert & Degnet Abebaw, 2021. "Gender Bias in Agricultural Child Labor: Evidence from Survey Design Experiments," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 35(4), pages 872-891.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:wbecrv:v:35:y:2021:i:4:p:872-891.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/wber/lhaa021
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicola S. Pocock & Clara W. Chan & Cathy Zimmerman, 2021. "Suitability of Measurement Tools for Assessing the Prevalence of Child Domestic Work: A Rapid Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Galdo, Jose C., 2021. "Using Bank Savings Product Design for Empowering Women and Agricultural Development," IZA Discussion Papers 14523, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Marine JOUVIN, 2021. "Addressing social desirability bias in child labor measurement : an application to cocoa farms in Côte d’Ivoire," Bordeaux Economics Working Papers 2021-08, Bordeaux School of Economics (BSE).
    4. Dammert, Ana C. & Galdo, Jose, 2021. "Assessing adult farm labor statistics: Evidence from a survey design experiment in Ethiopia," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    5. Koolwal, Gayatri B., 2021. "Improving the measurement of rural women's employment: Global momentum and survey priorities," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    survey design; farm labor; gender; labor statistics; child labor;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C8 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets

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