Millions of children are forced to work in often poor conditions in developing countries, particularly in South Asia.They miss school and are denied a decent future. In Child Labour in South Asia Herath and Sharma provide valuable insights into relevant economic theories, reasons for child labour, its trade impacts and other consequences. Their insights are backed up by authoritative chapters by other contributors. Child Labour in South Asia makes an important integrated contribution to development studies and fills a literature gap. It will be of interest to all involved in development studies and will be essential reading for those particularly concerned about social and economic issues involving the employment of child labour. Clem Tisdell, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Queensland, AustraliaThis volume aims to shed light on the debate over child labor in the era of globalization by documenting the experience of Asian developing countries which have experienced rapid income and export growth. Child labour is a serious and contentious issue throughout the developing world and it continues to be a problem whose form and very meaning shifts with social, geographical, economic and cultural context. While the debate about child labour practice in developing countries appears to be motivated by growing competition in labour intensive products brought about by globalisation, studies on this issue are both sparse and lopsided. In this context, this important book aims to shed light on this debate by documenting the experience of South Asian developing countries which have experienced rapid income and export growth. The analysis presented in the volume, based on evidence from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, aims to improve our understanding about the link between trade, growth and child labour practices, as well as management of child labour in developing countries. Contents: Preface; Part I Theoretical and Empirical Debates on Child Labour: Child labour and economic development: emerging issues in developing Asia, Gamini Herath and Kishor Sharma; Child labour in developing countries: review of theoretical and empirical issues, Gamini Herath; Cumulative causation as explanation and policy base for child labour, G. Bamberry; Child labour: and integrated approach, Manohar Pawar; Trade, growth and child labour practices in South Asia, Kishor Sharma. Part II Lessons from South Asia: An overview of child labour laws, prevention strategies and assessment of their effectiveness in Bangladesh, Jesmul Hasan; An overview of child labour in India, Subhashini Subbaraman and Harold von Witzke; Child labour in India: a critical evaluation of 4 issues, Anna Pinto; Prevention of child labour in Nepal: an overview of strategy and effectiveness, Chiranjibi Nepal; Prevention of child labour in Pakistan: analysis of strategy and effectiveness, Shafqat Munir and Hassan Mangi; Issues relating to prevention of child labour in Sri Lanka, Nisha Aruntilake and Roshani de Silva; Index.About the Author: Gamini Herath is Associate Professor in Economics at Deakin University, Australia. Kishor Sharma is Associate Professor at the School of Management, Charles Sturt University, Australia.