Explaining Variation in Child Labor Statistics
Child labor statistics are critical for assessing the extent and nature of child labor activities in developing countries. In practice, widespread variation exists in how child labor is measured. Questionnaire modules vary across countries and with...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2012
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20100907093642 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3899 |
| Summary: | Child labor statistics are critical for
assessing the extent and nature of child labor activities in
developing countries. In practice, widespread variation
exists in how child labor is measured. Questionnaire modules
vary across countries and within countries over time along
several dimensions, including respondent type and the
structure of the questionnaire. Little is known about the
effect of these differences on child labor statistics. This
paper presents the results from a randomized survey
experiment in Tanzania focusing on two survey aspects:
different questionnaire design to classify children work and
proxy response versus self-reporting. Use of a short module
compared with a more detailed questionnaire has a
statistically significant effect, especially on child labor
force participation rates, and, to a lesser extent, on
working hours. Proxy reports do not differ significantly
from a child s self-report. Further analysis demonstrates
that survey design choices affect the coefficient estimates
of some determinants of child labor in a child labor supply
equation. The results suggest that low-cost changes to
questionnaire design to clarify the concept of work for
respondents can improve the data collected. |
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