Perspective: The myths behind the push to resurrect child labor
Stephen Moore, visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, speaks during a Bloomberg Television interview in Washington on May 2.
The figures on child labor are notoriously unreliable. Census data, from which historians’ estimates are derived, are best understood as a minimum and show that child labor peaked between 1890 and 1910 with at least 18 percent of all children between 10 and 15 years old in gainful employment. By the 1930s, this figure had dropped to about 5 percent.
In addition, courts decided that contributory negligence in workers’ compensation cases could not apply to children. In practice this meant that when a child was injured at work, employers could not avoid paying damages by blaming the accident on the child, which indirectly raised the cost of child labor.
Put these factors together, and it becomes clear that governmental action of every sort and at every level was instrumental in the drop-off in child labor. But the history of child labor reveals that it is more likely that earlier government actions that increased the cost of child labor, reduced the number of working children and improved education led to an increase in adult wages.
Child labor was also linked to poor public health. Children faced higher rates of accidents than adults in industrial jobs. Child laborers were also shorter and weighed less than their peers who did not work, both signs of poverty. At best, child labor was a symptom of poverty; at worst, it was a cause.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Facebook redesign, privacy push highlight Zuckerberg’s efforts to leave troubles behindNEW: Zuckerberg unveils redesign for the Facebook app and website, as well as planned changes to Facebook’s Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram apps that he said would make the services faster, more private and more social. - David_Ingram
Weiterlesen »
Venezuela, from a child's perspectiveIn the whole of March, children in Venezuela went to school fewer than 10 days. Blackouts left 70% of the country without electricity, affecting at least 15 of the country's 23 states and forcing the government to close schools and work.
Weiterlesen »
Perspective | When to cut off financial help to adult childrenStudy: 51 percent of Americans are sacrificing their retirement savings to free up money to assist their adult children.
Weiterlesen »
Perspective | Stop sacrificing your retirement to coddle your adult children.Half of American parents are risking their retirement to help support adult children.
Weiterlesen »
Perspective | Make Mother’s Day memorable with these children’s booksNine picture books to share with your little readers ahead of the holiday.
Weiterlesen »
Duchess of Sussex: Meghan goes into labour with her first childThe Duchess of Sussex has gone into labour with her first child, Buckingham Palace has announced. It follows weeks of speculation about when Meghan, 37, might give birth - but no details have been given about where she is having her baby.
Weiterlesen »
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, in labor with 1st childBREAKING: Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is in labor with her first child, Buckingham Palace announces.
Weiterlesen »
Perspective | Asylum seekers leave everything behind. There’s no way they can pay Trump’s fee.Perspective: Asylum seekers leave everything behind. There’s no way they can pay Trump’s fee.
Weiterlesen »
Perspective | Trump’s stonewalling of Congress is illegal. How far will he push it?Congress’s right to conduct investigations is well established, argues a White House counsel to President Barack Obama.
Weiterlesen »
Opinion | Five myths about anti-SemitismThe alt-right aren’t the only ones who subscribe to it.
Weiterlesen »
Perspective | Where is the hope? Perhaps in our children.Why we parents need to keep thinking of teenagers as hope.
Weiterlesen »