The idea that children may be active decision-makers has received little serious attention from social scientists. New research on data from rural Karnataka, India, suggests that very young males leave for the city in considerable numbers, often in direct conflict with parental preferences.

A study from the University of East Anglia’s School of Development Studies argues that economists should perceive children as potential economic agents, raising doubts about the conventional assumption that children’s labour force entry or migration generally reflect parental or cooperative household decisions.

Despite high local incomes and public policies favourable to educational attendance, about one in eight 10-14 year old boys are or have been labour migrants, primarily working in South-Indian food joints in Bangalore city. Girl migrants are fewer in numbers and mainly work as domestic servants.

The study presents estimates of the incidence of child migration in general and autonomous child migration, in particular, using data from 21 villages in Nagamangala taluk, Mandya District. The study also investigates the determinants of autonomous behaviour. Among the key findings are:

• Gender differences in autonomous behaviour are strongly pronounced. While girls are cooperative or obey parental will, boys are more likely to leave home on their own terms, often by running away.
• 23 percent of the migrant boys left home against parental wishes but usually retain family links and remit wages.
• The probability of autonomous migration increases rapidly with age in the case of boys.
• Boys from lower caste backgrounds are less likely to make autonomous decisions.
• High incidence of autonomous behaviour in the peer-group increases the probability of autonomy.
• Domestic discord, much of it alcohol-fuelled, has a strong effect on autonomous behaviour.

The report, based on a relatively limited sample, urges that child labour researchers and policymakers to:

• nuance behavioural assumptions in analysis of child labour supply.
• focus on domestic discord and not just poverty - urban labour markets provide a safety net for badly-treated children or those from a dysfunctional home
• include institutional measures to sustain safety nets in child labour policies
• target parents as well as children (In this case boys above a certain age) in attitude-based policy interventions

Source(s):
‘Autonomy in child labour migrants’ by Vegard Iversen, Discussion Paper #248, School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia, November 2000

Funded by: Norwegian Research Council

id21 Research Highlight: 20 June 2001

Further Information:
Vegard Iversen
School of Development Studies
University of East Anglia
Norwich NR4 7TJ
UK

Tel: +44 (0)1603 592338
Fax: +44 (0)1603 451999
Contact the contributor: v.iversen@uea.ac.uk

School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia (UEA), UK

Other related links:
ILO aims towards the abolition of child labour

Save the Children is working to end exploitative child labour

Visit the International Organisation for Migration

ICLP supports international efforts to eliminate child labour

CMS focuses on Migration Studies