Household income as a determinant of child labor and school enrollment in Brazil: Evidence from a social security reform

de Carvalho Filho, Irineu E. (2010): Household income as a determinant of child labor and school enrollment in Brazil: Evidence from a social security reform.

Abstract

This paper studies the effects of household income on labor participation and school enrollment of children aged 10 to 14 in Brazil using a social security reform as a source of exogenous variation in household income. We find that increased benefits are associated with increases in school enrollment for girls, as well as a smaller reduction in their labor participation, but find no effects for boys. We also uncover evidence that the gender of the benefit receiver matters for girls’ labor variables: only benefits received by females reduce girls’ work.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: social security reform, child labor, family, school enrollment, old-age benefits, Brazil
• Subjects: J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J1 - Demographic Economics > J13 - Fertility ; Family Planning ; Child Care ; Children ; Youth; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O12 - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development; N - Economic History > N3 - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy > N36 - Latin America ; Caribbean

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