Child labour in China

Can Tang, Liqiu Zhao and Zhong Zhao
Additional contact information
Can Tang: Renmin University of China
Liqiu Zhao: Renmin University of China

No 2016-036, MERIT Working Papers from United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT)

Abstract: We present the first systematic study on child labour in China. Child labour is not a negligible social phenomenon in China; about 7.74% of children aged from 10 to 15 were working in 2010, and they worked for 6.75 hours per day on average, and spent 6.42 hours less per day on study than other children. About 90% of child labourers were still in school and combined economic activity with schooling. Our results show that child labour participation is positively associated with school dropout rate. A child living in a rural area is more likely to work. Compared with place of residence, the gender of a child is less important. The educational level of the household head and its interaction with the gender of the household head seem to be unimportant. However, household assets per capita and household involvement in non-agricultural activities are negatively related to the incidence of child labour. A child from a household with more adults is less likely to work. The prevalence of child labour in China exhibits significant regional variations. The child labour incidence is correlated with the development level of each region: the Western region has the highest percentage of child labour, followed by the Eastern and Central region.

Keywords: Child labour; Early leavers; School dropouts; Working hours; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J43 J81 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-06-21
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cna, nep-dev, nep-ger, nep-lma and nep-tra
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Child labor in China (2018)
Working Paper: Child Labor in China (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:unm:unumer:2016036

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