Tackling Child Labor: Can Better Schools Prevent Children from Working?

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the conventional belief on the impact of child labor regulation and to identify related economic problems. Ultimately, the paper aimed to evaluate the successfulness of the United States’ Millennium Development Goals with particular focus on the issues of child labor, and provide policy suggestions for the development and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Methods: Published articles on child labor were reviewed to identify the conventional logic of economics for child labor regulation as well as its problems. In addition, child labor regulations and failures were studied to address the important features of successful child labor regulations. Results: Whereas the conventional economic logic argues for stricter child labor regulation, studies revealed the risk of law enforcements that take place without considering the social and economic factors driving child labor participation. Considering primary education as an effective substitute of child labor, schools with better quality could serve as an alternate solution to child labor problems. However, whereas the nominal achievements of the Millennium Development Goals might be positive, thorough reviews on the quality issues of primary education are rather negative. Conclusion: The paper has shown the importance of primary education and its effectiveness in tackling child labor. However, as the Sustainable Development Goals proceed until 2030, the importance of the quality of education, as well as the quantity of schooling, should be well acknowledged.