THE LUXURY AXIOM, THE WEALTH PARADOX, AND CHILD LABOR

Abstract

Basu and Van (1998) present a fundamental framework of child labor with two important axioms: the luxury axiom and the substitution axiom. A number of empirical studies, however, reveal a ¡°wealth paradox¡±. The current paper has two aims. First, it develops a model that provides an explanation for ¡°the wealth paradox¡± in light of the luxury axiom and the substitution axiom. Second, it helps understand the relationship between the luxury axiom and the substitution axiom.Child Labor, Luxury Axiom, Wealth Paradox, Substitution Axiom