El Bono de Desarrollo Humano tiene un efecto en la disminución del trabajo infantil en los hogares del Ecuador?

Abstract

In the present research, the impact assessment of the Human Development Bonus on child labor in Ecuador is conducted for the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. A literature review is presented, and the methodologies of Regression Discontinuity and Propensity Score Matching used in this study are described. The results indicate that, globally, there is a significant decrease in child labor, more pronounced before the pandemic. Segmentation by area highlights a more pronounced reduction in rural areas, while gender differences reveal a greater effect in boys. Additionally, by analyzing the household head's work history as a child laborer, a stronger impact is identified in those who were also child laborers. This research emphasizes distinctive patterns, contributing to a better understanding of the effectiveness of this conditional cash transfer in specific contexts and aiding in comprehending how these policies, to a certain extent, affect child labor.