Child Labor: Lessons from the Historical Experience of Today's Industrial Economies

Child labor was more prevalent in 19th-century industrializersthan it is in developing countries today. It was particularlyextensive in the earliest industrializers. This pattern maybe a source of optimism signaling the spread of technologiesthat have little use for child labor and of values that endorsethe preservation and protection of childhood. Today and historically,orphaned and fatherless children and those in large familiesare most vulnerable. Efficient interventions to curb child laborinvolve fiscal transfers to these children and active policiestoward street children. Changes in capitalist labor markets(including technology), family strategies, state policies, andcultural norms are examined to shed light on the causes, chronology,and consequences of child labor.