Hakan Acaroğlu1, Erol Kutlu2

(1. Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Dep. of Economics, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Turkey;

2. Faculty of Art and Sciences, Department of Economics, Yunusemre Campus, Anadolu University, Turkey)

 

 

Abstract: Child labor is one of the socio-economic problems of developing countries. The child labor phenomenon in Turkey is investigated in family structure with regard to human capital approach in this study. The existence of child labor results in either human development or poverty is aimed to show. In this study, starting with a production function the output per capita is reduced to representation of human capital and factor endowment and it is aimed to measure the human capital accumulation of individuals who have a relationship with child labor. According to the findings child labor causes a reduction of human capital accumulation both in the rural and urban areas of Turkey. It can be concluded that instead of falling in vicious cycle of poverty, the human development can be achieved through the increase in the human capital through developing the education and income levels of household decision makers.

 

 

Key words: child labor; human capital; poverty; education; development

 

JEL codes: A20, D10, H31