Women in Politics and Child Labor: an Instrumental Variable Approach

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of the empowerment of women in politics on child labor. The literature both on women in politics and on child labor lacks empirical evidence on the presence of the causality running from empowerment of women in politics to child labor. By using cross-sectional country observations and implementing an instrumental variable approach, the current study shows that an increase in the seat share of women in national parliament decreases child labor. In particular, a 1-percentage-point increase in the seat share of women in national parliament decreases child labor by 0.36 percentage points, being 0.54 percentage points for male child labor and 0.47 percentage points for female child labor. These results indicate that child labor is another issue where men and women politicians have different priorities and preferences.