From Malthus to Modern Growth : Child Labor, Schooling and Human Capital

Vogel, Edgar

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URL:	https://ub-madoc.bib.uni-mannheim.de/2321
URN:	urn:nbn:de:bsz:180-madoc-23213
Dokumenttyp:	Arbeitspapier
Erscheinungsjahr:	2009
Titel einer Zeitschrift oder einer Reihe:	MEA Discussion Papers
Band/Volume:	180
Ort der Veröffentlichung:	Mannheim
Sprache der Veröffentlichung:	Englisch
Einrichtung:	Fakultät für Rechtswissenschaft und Volkswirtschaftslehre > Sonstige - Fakultät für Rechtswissenschaft und Volkswirtschaftslehre
MADOC-Schriftenreihe:	Veröffentlichungen des MEA (Mannheim Research Institute For the Economics of Aging) > MEA Discussion Papers
Fachgebiet:	300 Sozialwissenschaften, Soziologie, Anthropologie
Fachklassifikation:	JEL: O40 O11 J11 J13 I12 ,
Normierte Schlagwörter (SWD):	Bevölkerungsentwicklung , Kindersterblichkeit , Soziale Sicherheit , Kinderarbeit , Humankapital , Wachstum
Freie Schlagwörter (Englisch):	Demographic transition , child mortality , precautionary demand , child labor , human capital , growth
Abstract:	This paper develops a dynamic general equilibrium model of fertility, human capital accumulation, child labor and uncertain child survival focusing on the qualitative and quantitative effect of declining mortality on household decisions and economic development. Due to uncertainty about child survival, parents have a precautionary demand for children. Rising survival probability leads to falling fertility, eventually to investment into schooling and the demise of child labor. Child labor can be an obstacle to development since it lowers the incentives of parents to educate children. Furthermore, the paper argues that the decline of precautionary child demand as a consequence of falling mortality is not sufficient to generate a demographic transition. Falling mortality can only explain a relatively small part of the fertility decline. A sizable reduction in fertility can only be achieved by human capital investment and the induced quantity-quality trade off.