What explains the variation in child labor statistics? Evidence from a survey experiment in Tanzania

Dillon, A., Bardasi, E., Beegle, K. and Serneels, Pieter (2012) What explains the variation in child labor statistics? Evidence from a survey experiment in Tanzania. Journal of Development Economics, 98 (1). pp. 136-147.

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Abstract

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 design choices: 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 will potentially clarify the concept of work for respondents.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sdg 1 - no poverty,sdg 8 - decent work and economic growth ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/no_poverty
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Experimental Economics (former - to 2017) Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Impact Evaluation Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Behavioural and Experimental Social Sciences University of East Anglia Schools > Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Depositing User:	Julie Frith
Date Deposited:	05 Dec 2012 13:51
Last Modified:	25 Nov 2023 01:35
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/40416
DOI:	10.1016/j.jdeveco.2011.06.002

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