Date of Graduation
8-2017
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Economics
Advisor/Mentor
Gaduh, Arya B.
Committee Member
Zamarro, Gema
Second Committee Member
Gu, Jingping
Keywords
Applied Econometrics; Colombia; Development Economics; Indonesia; Labor Economics; Non-cognitive Skills
Abstract
This dissertation uses two institutional datasets for two developing countries and examines several dimensions of economic development. Chapter 1 and 2 use an IV approach to identify the impact of international remittances on the welfare of individuals left behind in Colombia. In Chapter 1, I provide evidence that remittances reduce child labor participation, and the amount of hours worked, a margin ignored by the literature so far. In addition, Chapter 2 explores the impact that this remittance income has over the working conditions for informal workers, a type of job characterized by long working hours and lack of social benefits. I provide evidence that remittances not only reduce the amount of hours worked but also increase the likelihood of having health insurance for individuals with informal jobs. Chapter 3 uses a difference-in-difference approach to analyze the effect of parental shocks on skill formation. Using data for Indonesia, I provide evidence that parental shocks in childhood affect the level of conscientiousness and neuroticism in adulthood, two personality traits related with socio-economic success.
Citation
Cuadros, A. F. (2017). Essays on Non-Cognitive Skills, Child Labor and Working Conditions. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/2380
