Relative wage, child labor, and human capital

This paper analyses child labor and children's human capital formation in response to the changes of the relative wage/productivity between child labor and adult labor. It implies that because children's labor market participation raises the financial resources spent on their education, a small increase in child labor may enhance children's human capital. It also shows that in a poor economy, the laws that punish or partially deter child labor may result in children working more and accumulating less human capital.