Although extractive industries have been associated with women's empowerment and lower infant mortality in Africa, this article provides evidence that the rapid increase in the demand for lithium-ion batteries reduced the education rates of children living in cobalt mining villages in sub-Saharan Africa. Children exposed to cobalt mining also exhibit slower cognitive and physical development than those living in noncobalt mining communities. The estimates are robust to spatial spillover effects and selective migration. This study highlights the need for policies that enforce child labor regulations in the cobalt mining sector, particularly because cobalt is crucial to technological development. Such policies can help mitigate the negative economic consequences for cobalt-rich communities in the long run.
The Dark Side of Batteries: Cobalt Mining and Children's Education in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Malpede, Maurizio
2025-01-01
Abstract
Although extractive industries have been associated with women's empowerment and lower infant mortality in Africa, this article provides evidence that the rapid increase in the demand for lithium-ion batteries reduced the education rates of children living in cobalt mining villages in sub-Saharan Africa. Children exposed to cobalt mining also exhibit slower cognitive and physical development than those living in noncobalt mining communities. The estimates are robust to spatial spillover effects and selective migration. This study highlights the need for policies that enforce child labor regulations in the cobalt mining sector, particularly because cobalt is crucial to technological development. Such policies can help mitigate the negative economic consequences for cobalt-rich communities in the long run.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
