It outlines a study which showed that over 1997-2003, coca producers in Peru were increasingly using child labor to produce their crops, with depressing results. The child labor rate rose by 30 per cent in coca-producing areas, with a roughly equal proportion of children who dropped out of school. However, the introduction of a cash-transfer scheme which gave parents about $30 a month so long as their kids were in school, had strong results. In areas where this was deployed, coca production fell by 34 per cent.
Study showing interesting way to reduce both cocaine production and child labor
This is an interesting report in The Economist (Oct 15, p79): https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/10/13/demand-for-drugs-caused-a-surge-in-child-labour-in-peru
It outlines a study which showed that over 1997-2003, coca producers in Peru were increasingly using child labor to produce their crops, with depressing results. The child labor rate rose by 30 per cent in coca-producing areas, with a roughly equal proportion of children who dropped out of school. However, the introduction of a cash-transfer scheme which gave parents about $30 a month so long as their kids were in school, had strong results. In areas where this was deployed, coca production fell by 34 per cent.