The Economic Activities of Children in a Village in Bangladesh

From the perspective of parents in many parts of the developing world, high fertility and large numbers of surviving children may be economically rational propositions. An important consideration with respect to the micro implications of high fertility is the economic roles and productive contributions of children during the period when they are members of their parents' household and their output is controlled by parents. Preliminary findings from ongoing research in the village of Char Gopalpur in Bangladesh provide a basis for analyzing the work contribution of children to their parents' household. The results suggest that in this village, male children may become inet producers as early as age 12, compensate for their ownl cumulative conisumption by age 15, and compensate…