Child labour and international trade : an economic perspective

Child labour is a widespread phenomenon. Although economic activities of children havebeen commonplace even before the industrialisation, it has in the meanwhile become a lastingsymbol of the industrial revolution and of industrialisation in general. In most countries theinclusion of children in the labour force is legally restricted. Nevertheless, economic activities ofchildren, most of these within their families, continue to be an everyday feature of economicdevelopment, especially in the poorer countries. Beside cultural or social factors, these economicactivities are mainly determined by economic forces. Hence, economic conditions most likelyplay a fundamental role in explaining child labour. Economic development trends which changethe economic conditions therefore influence the extent of child labour.