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Can microinsurance help prevent child labor? An impact evaluation from Pakistan

Research Paper #:

  32
 

Title:

  Can microinsurance help prevent child labor? An impact evaluation from Pakistan
 

Author(s):


Andreas Landmann , Department of Economics, University of Mannheim
Markus Frölich, Department of Economics, University of Mannheim, Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit (IZA), and Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung (ZEW)
 

Date of Publication:

  May 2013
 

Summary:


Child labour is a common consequence of economic shocks in developing countries. Research Paper #32 explores how reducing vulnerability through insurance impacts child labour and schooling. Using the case of a health and accident insurance scheme by a Pakistani microfinance institution, the study finds that increased insurance coverage results in lower incidence of child labor and reduced earnings from child labour. The effect is largely attributed to an ex-ante feeling of protection as opposed to a shock-mitigation effect.

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