Analyzing the drivers of child labor and human development: a panel data study of Central Asia and Mongolia

Amarjargal Gandolgor¹*

*Corresponding Author: Amarjargal Gandolgor

¹International Ulaanbaatar University, Mongolia, gandolgor.a@ulaanbatar.edu.mn

Digital Object Identifier:  

https://doi.org/10.53468/mifyr.2025.05.01.118

Abstract- Various studies have been conducted on child labor. These studies tend to rely on or interpret child labor statistics from an economic perspective. This study investigates why children
accept the role of child laborer and identifies the factors that influence them. To analyze the factors affecting child labor in this context, we conducted a dynamic panel data analysis using data from
five Central Asian countries and Mongolia from 1990 to 2022 to identify the causes of child labor. A country’s level of development and poverty are closely related to child labor; therefore, the
Human Development Index was added to the model as a dependent variable. Based on the research literature, the following variables were added to the model as independent variables:
population growth, primary education penetration rate, years of primary education, and labor market participation rate. The analysis showed that all variables were statistically significant.
Population growth was found to hurt child labor, but labor force participation rate, primary school enrollment, economic growth, and years of primary education had a positive impact. Economic
growth and social protection hurt the Human Development Index (HDI), while a country’s life expectancy does not affect the HDI. These findings show that the problem of child labor depends on many social factors, not just economic ones.

Keywords: Child labor, human development, primary education, labor force participation, poverty, Central Asia and Mongolia, panel dynamic data analysis

Article History: Received 17 March 2025, Received in revised form 18 March 2025, Accepted 21 March 2025

Download file: httpsdoi.org10.53468mifyr.2025.05.01.118