Child labour and school attendance: evidence from Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper uses data from Bangladesh to examine the determinants of child labour and schooling. Using a multinomial logit model, we jointly estimate the determinants of schooling and working, combining schooling and work, or doing nothing for 5-17 years old children. The multinomial logit results show that the education of parents significantly increases the probability that a school-age child will specialise in study. The presence of very young children (ages 0-4) in the household increases the likelihood that a school-age child will combine study with work. The significant and positive gender coefficient suggests that girls are more likely than boys to combine schooling with work. The children who are sons and daughters of the household-head, as opposed to being relatives living in the household are more likely to combine study and work but less likely to specialise in work