Mises Wire

Repeal Child Labor Laws

Repeal Child Labor Laws
Mises Wire Jeffrey A. Tucker

I enjoyed writing this piece, and especially researching it. I had no idea how late it was when child labor laws became national. I didn't know that the original agitation came from women's textile unions. I had no idea that there were so many exceptions in the law ("wreath making"?). I also found that it was an oddly difficult case to make since most people just assume that without the laws, kids would be chained to rug looms or slaving for Wal-Mart. I really wanted to write it in a way that would be convincing to someone who had never thought about markets.

See what you think.

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