Determinants of Economically Active Children in Ghana

The study examines the determinants of economically active children between the ages of 5-14-years in Ghana using data from the 2012/2013 Ghana Living Standards Survey.The regional and occupational distribution as well as the gender dimensions of economically active children in Ghana are examined in the study. Using a probit model the paper finds out that variables such as mother’s presence in the household, child’s educational status, father’s education, household’s ownership of land, urban-rural residence, religion and regional dummies significantly influence the occurrence of child work. However, variables such as the gender of the child, father’s presence in the household and the education of the mother were insignificant in determining child work.The study could not establish the evidence that supports the gender gap in the literature that boys are more economically active than girls as the results from the probit estimates suggest the gender of the child is insignificant in determining economically active children.