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2.1.2 Schooling or work? The determinants of child labour in Africa
Child labour of the exploitative type must be overcome fast. Economic and legal
action is needed. Empirical evidence indicates that child labourers are found mostly
in developing countries and are employed mainly in agriculture and related activities.
In many developing countries, the contribution of children to family income
has been found to play a consistently significant role. A ZEF study examined how
subsistence-rural households decided to allow their children to spend time on competing
activities, including work and school attendance. The results show that a
number of child- and household-specific attributes, culture- and location-specific
factors as well as economic factors related to household wealth and technological
development affect the decision-making process. Improving the educational infrastructure,
encouraging technological adoption and creating a more stable economic
base for rural households could significantly contribute towards reducing the
problem of child labour.
2.1.3 Economics of volunteering - A cross-country investigation
ZEF research draws attention to the key rules for development of institutions that
operate in the sphere between state and market. The project “Volume and Economic
Value of Volunteering in Countries of Different Income Levels" was launched in
June 2000 as a joint initiative with the United Nations Volunteers. Bangladesh,
Ghana, Poland and South Korea have been selected for theoretical and empirical
research on the determinants of volunteering and the analysis of the economic significance
of volunteer labour supply. A common methodology and survey design
were employed in each country in order to enable cross-country comparisons. Initial
results on the volume and economic value of volunteer work were obtained as a
contribution to the 'International Year of the Volunteer 2001'. Findings revealed
that the share of volunteers in the total population who are engaged in regular
volunteer work within an institution of the Non-profit Sector increases with the
level of economic development of the country, ranging between 0.43 % of the
population in Bangladesh and 5.47 % in South Korea. The profile of volunteers also
revealed considerable variations across the countries, reflecting, for example, that far
fewer women compared to men are engaged in volunteer work in Bangladesh and
Ghana. In contrast, female volunteers outweigh their male counterparts in Poland
and South Korea. Volunteers in Bangladesh and Ghana also showed a higher frequency
of volunteering, with many of them involved daily.
2.2 Trade and Macroeconomic Issues of
Development
Trade liberalisation and macroeconomic reforms confront
developing countries with new challenges. To support
these countries in meeting the challenges, ZEF's research
concentrates on the impact of Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) policies and international trade and aid on the
development of low-income countries, and on mechanisms
of global governance, including social and environmental
standards. Three research areas have been
selected and will be presented in the following.
Working children at
a market in Ghana
Research
ZEF research shows that the
profile of volunteers varies
considerably across countries.
For instance, far fewer women
compared to men are engaged
in volunteer work in
Bangladesh and Ghana, while
female volunteers outweigh
their male counterparts in
Poland and South Korea.
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