Evaluating the Need for Child Labor in Pakistan and Bangladesh with Remarks on Possible Remedies

Mariah Holder

Date of Award

2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Coe, Richard

Keywords

Child Labor, Pakistan, Bangladesh

Area of Concentration

Economics

Abstract

This paper evaluates the need for child labor in Pakistan and Bangladesh. It uses a model by Basu and Van (1) to create a structure for evaluating need and then applies country specific data to determine the need of these two countries. This model is expanded on by Basu to include a multiple equilibrium model of the labor market. (2) Indicators such as poverty levels, unemployment rates, sectoral distributions of GDP and employment along with studies on the family conditions of child laborers were used to evaluate need. In both instances need was found. This paper finds parental poverty to be a key factor in supplying children to the labor market. Economic remedies are therefore stressed. Industrial growth with the introduction of technology is found to have the ability to raise the industrial wage rate while creating more employment opportunities. Microcredit is also seen as an important remedy as it has the potential to lend to a multiple equilibrium situation by decreasing the amount of people dependent on wages. (1) Kaushik Basu and Pham Hoang Van, 'The Economics of Child Labor,' The American Economic Review 88, no. 3 (1998):412-427. (2) Kaushik Basu, ' Child Labor: Cause, Consequence, and Cure, with Remarks on International Labor Standards,' Journal of Economic Literature, 37, no. 3, (1999): 1100.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS