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The impact of child work on cognitive development: results from four Low to Middle Income countries

Author

Listed:
  • Michael P Keane

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and University of New South Wales (UNSW))

  • Sonya Krutikova

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Timothy Neal

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies)

Abstract

We study the relationship between child work and cognitive development in four Low and Middle Income Countries. We address a key weakness in the literature by including children’s full time-use vector in the analysis, which leads to different findings from previous studies which do not distinguish between alternative counter-factual activities. We find child work is only detrimental if it crowds out school/study time rather than leisure. Furthermore, the marginal effects of substituting domestic chores or economic activities for school/study time are similar. Thus, policies to enhance child development should target a shift from all forms of work toward educational activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael P Keane & Sonya Krutikova & Timothy Neal, 2018. "The impact of child work on cognitive development: results from four Low to Middle Income countries," IFS Working Papers W18/29, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:ifs:ifsewp:18/29
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    3. Mark Mitchell & Marta Favara & Catherine Porter & Alan Sánchez, 2020. "Human Capital Development," Working Papers 308280110, Lancaster University Management School, Economics Department.
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    5. Sameh Hallaq & Ayman Khalifah, 2022. "School Performance and Child Labor: Evidence from West Bank Schools," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_1007, Levy Economics Institute.
    6. Chang, Grace, 2022. "How is adolescents' time allocation associated with their self-esteem and self-efficacy? Evidence from four developing countries," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 115059, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Child labour; Child development; Education; Time use; Item response theory; Value added models;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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