Is improved school accessibility an effective policy tool for reducing child labor in developing countries? We address this question using micro data from rural Tanzania and a regression strategy that attempts to control for non-random location of households around schools as well as classical and non-classical measurement error in self-reported distance to school. Consistent with a simple model of child labor supply, but contrary to what appears to be a widespread perception, our analysis shows that school proximity leads to a rise in school attendance but no fall in child labor.

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December 2010     Paper Number CEPDP1035

Download PDF - School Proximity and Child Labor Evidence from Rurul Tanzania

This CEP discussion paper is published under the centre's Labour programme.