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Household Shocks, Child Labor, and Child Schooling: Evidence from Guatemala

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2022

William F. Vásquez  and
Alok K. Bohara
William F. Vásquez
Affiliation:
Fairfield University
Alok K. Bohara
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico
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Abstract

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Using data from the National Survey of Standards of Living conducted in Guatemala in 2000, this article tests the hypothesis that Guatemalan households use child labor and reduce child schooling to cope with household shocks. First, the authors use factor analysis to estimate the latent household propensity to natural disasters and socioeconomic shocks. Then, they estimate bivariate probit models to identify the determinants of child labor and schooling, including household propensity to natural disasters and socioeconomic shocks. Results suggest that households use child labor to cope with natural disasters and socioeconomic shocks. In contrast, the authors found no evidence that suggests that households reduce child schooling to cope with shocks. Findings also indicate that poor households are more likely to use child labor and schooling reduction as strategies to cope with socioeconomic shocks.

Resumo

Resumo

Basado en datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Condiciones de Vida conducida en Guatemala en 2000, este artículo evalúa la hipótesis de que los hogares guatemaltecos utilizan el trabajo infantil y reducen la escolaridad de los niños para enfrentar eventos negativos. Primero, se utiliza análisis de factores para estimar la propensión latente de los hogares a sufrir desastres naturales y eventos socioeconómicos. Luego, se estiman modelos probit bivariados para identificar los determinantes del trabajo y escolaridad infantil incluyendo la propensión de los hogares a desastres naturales y eventos socioeconómicos. Los resultados sugieren que los hogares utilizan el trabajo infantil para recuperarse de desastres naturales y eventos socioeconómicos. En contraste, no se encontró evidencia que sugiera que los hogares reducen la escolaridad de los niños para recuperarse de dichos eventos. Los resultados también indican que es más probable que los hogares pobres utilicen el trabajo infantil y reduzcan la escolaridad de los niños como estrategias de recuperación ante eventos socioeconómicos.

Type
Research Reports and Notes
Information
Latin American Research Review , Volume 45 , Issue 3 , 2010 , pp. 165 - 186
Copyright
Copyright © 2010 by the Latin American Studies Association

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