The Trade-Off Between Child Labor and Schooling: Influence of Social Labeling NGOs in Nepal

Does the labeling of products which have been produced without any child laborers contribute to increased welfare of children? This paper presents some results of a survey in Nepal conducted to analyze which factors determine the probability of a child to work, and to examine the influence of non governmental organizations (NGOs) which are engaged in social labeling, on the incidence of child labor and child schooling. Data were obtained from interviews with 410 households of Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. The results of the econometric analysis show that the probability of child labor (i) decreases if the carpet industry has implemented a labeling program, (ii) decreases if the adult’s income increases (‘luxury axiom’), (iii) decreases if the head of the household is educated, (iv) increases with the age of the head of the household, and (v) is increased in the presence of more children (aged 5-14) in the household. It can also be shown that labeling NGOs have a significant positive influence on sending the ex-child laborers to school.Child labor; Schooling; Social labeling; Kathmandu Valley

Dynamic Algorithms for Graph Coloring

We design fast dynamic algorithms for proper vertex and edge colorings in a graph undergoing edge insertions and deletions. In the static setting, there are simple linear time algorithms for $(\Delta+1)$- vertex coloring and $(2\Delta-1)$-edge coloring in a graph with maximum degree $\Delta$. It is natural to ask if we can efficiently maintain such colorings in the dynamic setting as well. We get the following three results. (1) We present a randomized algorithm which maintains a $(\Delta+1)$-vertex coloring with $O(\log \Delta)$ expected amortized update time. (2) We present a deterministic algorithm which maintains a $(1+o(1))\Delta$-vertex coloring with $O(\text{poly} \log \Delta)$ amortized update time. (3) We present a simple, deterministic algorithm which maintains a $(2\Delta-1)$-edge coloring with $O(\log \Delta)$ worst-case update time. This improves the recent $O(\Delta)$-edge coloring algorithm with $\tilde{O}(\sqrt{\Delta})$ worst-case update time by Barenboim and Maimon.Comment: To appear in SODA 201

Impact of Social Labeling on Child Labor in the Indian Carpet Industry

Does the labeling of tradable products like carpets which have been produced without child labor contribute to decreased vulnerability of poor households and their children? This paper analyzes which factors determine the probability of a child to work in the carpet industry, and examines the influence of non governmental organizations (NGOs) like Rugmark which are engaged in the social labeling process. Data was obtained from interviews with 417 households in North India. Based on their calorie intake, the households were dissected into two groups, one very poor group below and another one above the subsistence level. The econometric analysis shows that a child living in a very poor household is more likely to work when his/her calorie intake increases (nutritional efficiency wage argument), while the opposite is true for a child from the above-subsistence household group. In addition, it has been found that social labeling has no significant influence on the very poor households. In contrast, at the above-subsistence level, social labeling has a significant positive welfare influence on the households. Furthermore, the occurrence of child labor is more likely for NGOs without monitoring.Trägt die Zertifizierung von Produkten, wie z.B. von Teppichen, die ohne Kinderarbeit produziert wurden, zu sinkender Verwundbarkeit armer Haushalte und ihrer Kinder bei? Der Diskussionsbeitrag untersucht die Faktoren, die die Wahrscheinlichkeit bestimmen, dass ein Kind in der Teppichindustrie arbeitet, sowie den Einfluss von Nicht Regierungsorganisationen (NROs) wie Rugmark, die im Bereich der Sozialzertifizierung aktiv sind. Die Daten basieren auf Interviews mit 417 Haushalten in Nordindien. Auf der Basis der Kalorienzufuhr werden die Haushalte in zwei Gruppen aufgeteilt, eine sehr arme Gruppe unterhalb und eine andere oberhalb der Subsistenzgrenze. Die ökonometrische Analyse zeigt, dass die Wahrscheinlichkeit zu arbeiten für ein Kind aus einem sehr armen Haushalt größer ist, wenn seine/ihre Kalorienzufuhr steigt (ernährungsbezogene Effizienzlohntheorie), während das Gegenteil für ein Kind aus einem oberhalb der Subsistenzgrenze lebenden Haushalt zutrifft. Darüber hinaus ist kein signifikanter Einfluss von Sozialzertifizierung auf die sehr armen Haushalte zu finden. Im Gegensatz dazu hat Sozialzertifizierung einen signifikanten Wohlfahrtseffekt auf Haushalte, die sich oberhalb der Subsistenzgrenze befinden. Weiterhin ist die Präsenz von Kinderarbeit wahrscheinlicher, wenn die NROs keine Kontrollen durchführen

Beginning Teacher Support in Australia: Towards an Online Community to Augment Current Support

This paper describes opportunities to improve the current support provided to beginning teachers in Australia. It holds that there is a need for approaches that go beyond school-based induction and support. The paper presents data from a survey of beginning teachers in Queensland, with aims to determine current access to support and perceptions about gaps in support. It uses these findings alongside existing evidence to make arguments, that some beginning teachers are effectively unsupported and that universities have the potential to play a greater role in beginning teacher support. Further results are used to suggest guidelines for developing a national online community of pre-service and beginning teachers. A case study of a successful online professional support community is used as a model for how this may be implemented

Socioeconomic correlates of overweight and obesity among ever-married urban women in Bangladesh

Background The escalating prevalence of overweight and obesity globally is reflected amongst urban women in many low-to-middle income countries. Evidence also shows that overweight and obesity is an increasing trend in Bangladesh. The present study assessed the prevalence and socioeconomic determinants of overweight and obesity among urban women in Bangladesh. Methods Data were extracted from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2014. A two-stage stratified sampling technique has been used for data collection in this cross-sectional survey. A sample of 1701 ever-married non-pregnant urban women aged 15–49 years was selected for statistical analysis. Descriptive analysis, multiple binomial logistic regression analysis were executed in this study. Results The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 34% (95% CI, 0.30–0.38) among urban Bangladeshi women. The probability of being overweight and obese increased with increasing age and wealth index. The likelihood of being overweight and obese among the oldest women surveyed (40–49 years) was 4.3 times (OR = 4.3, 95% CI: 2.1–8.8) higher relative to the youngest women (15–19 years). The wealthiest women had 4.1 times (OR = 4.1, 95% CI: 2.5–6.7) higher likelihood of being overweight and obese compared to the reference group of poorest women. Women having higher education (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.0–2.6) were more likely to be overweight and obese. However, women who were no longer living with their husband or separated from their husband were (OR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.8) less likely to be overweight and obese. Conclusion This study provides evidence that a large number of urban women were overweight and obese in Bangladesh. Women having higher levels of education, being older and belonging in both poorer and richest wealth quintile were at risk of being overweight and obese. Appropriate health promoting interventions based on these factors should be envisaged to reduce this problem

The Trade-Off Between Child Labor and Schooling: Influence of Social Labeling NGOs in Nepal

Does the labeling of products which have been produced without any child laborers contribute to increased welfare of children? This paper presents some results of a survey in Nepal conducted to analyze which factors determine the probability of a child to work, and to examine the influence of non governmental organizations (NGOs) which are engaged in social labeling, on the incidence of child labor and child schooling. Data were obtained from interviews with 410 households of Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. The results of the econometric analysis show that the probability of child labor (i) decreases if the carpet industry has implemented a labeling program, (ii) decreases if the adult’s income increases (‘luxury axiom’), (iii) decreases if the head of the household is educated, (iv) increases with the age of the head of the household, and (v) is increased in the presence of more children (aged 5-14) in the household. It can also be shown that labeling NGOs have a significant positive influence on sending the ex-child laborers to school

Risk factors for child stunting in Bangladesh: An analysis using MICS 2019 data

Background Malnutrition is considered a major public health challenge and is associated with a range of health issues, including childhood stunting. Stunting is a reliable and well-recognized indicator of chronic childhood malnutrition. The objective of this study is to determine the risk factors associated with stunting among 17,490 children below five years of age in Bangladesh. Methods Correlates of child stunting were examined using data generated by a cross-sectional cluster survey conducted in Bangladesh in 2019. The data includes a total of 17,490 children (aged \u3c 5 years) from 64,400 households. Multiple logistic regressions were used to determine the risk factors associated with child stunting and severe stunting. Results The prevalence of stunting and severe stunting for children was 25.96% and 7.97%, respectively. Children aged 24 to \u3c 36 months [Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.65, 95% CI: 2.30, 3.05] and aged 36 to \u3c 48 months [OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 2.02, 2.69] had more risk of stunting compared to the children aged \u3c 6 months. Children from Sylhet division had the greatest risk of stunting of all the eight divisions [OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.46]. Children of secondary complete or higher educated mothers were less likely to develop stunting [OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.79] compared with children of mothers having no education at all. Similarly, children of secondary complete or higher educated father [OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.87] were found to have lower risk of stunting compared with children whose father hadn’t any education. Substantially lower risk of stunting was observed among children whose mother and father both completed secondary education or above [OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.69]. Children from the richest households [OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.58] had 51% lower odds of stunting compared to children from the poorest households. Conclusions After controlling for socioeconomic and demographic factors, parental education and household position in the wealth index were found to be the most important determinants of child stunting in Bangladesh

The Trade-Off Between Child Labor and Schooling: Influence of Social Labeling NGOs in Nepal

Does the labeling of products which have been produced without any child laborers contribute to increased welfare of children? This paper presents some results of a survey in Nepal conducted to analyze which factors determine the probability of a child to work, and to examine the influence of non governmental organizations (NGOs) which are engaged in social labeling, on the incidence of child labor and child schooling. Data were obtained from interviews with 410 households of Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. The results of the econometric analysis show that the probability of child labor (i) decreases if the carpet industry has implemented a labeling program, (ii) decreases if the adult’s income increases (‘luxury axiom’), (iii) decreases if the head of the household is educated, (iv) increases with the age of the head of the household, and (v) is increased in the presence of more children (aged 5-14) in the household. It can also be shown that labeling NGOs have a significant positive influence on sending the ex-child laborers to school