Observations on International Labor Standards and TradeThis paper reviews the theoretical arguments for and against linking international labor standards to trade. Based on theory alone it is difficult to generalize about the effect of labor standards on efficiency and equity. Some economists have argued that international labor standards are merely disguised protectionism. An evaluation of determinants of support for legislation that would ban imports to the United States of goods made with child labor provides little support for the prevailing political economy view. In particular, members of Congress representing districts with relatively many unskilled workers, who are most likely to compete with child labor, are less likely to support a ban on imports made with child labor. Another finding is that the prevalence of child labor declines sharply with national income. Last, an analysis of compulsory schooling laws, which are often suggested as an alternative to prohibiting child labor, finds a tremendous amount of noncompliance in developing nations. |
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ADA rating Alan Krueger Alberto Alesina argues benefit Bureau of Economic Child Labor Deterrence child labor standards Cohorts comparative advantage competition compulsory schooling laws constituents cosponsor Data deadweight loss Democratic desire determinants of support developing countries disguised protectionism Economic Research economically efficient educational attainment employers employment enforce Evidence example exploit forced labor gopher at nber.harvard.edu http://nber.harvard.edu industrial countries industrial nations International Labor Affairs international labor standards International Trade Krueger Labor Deterrence Act legislation linear probability model list of NBER market failures minimal labor standards minimum wage minimum work age monopsony NAFTA and GATT National Bureau NBER Working Papers OBSERVATIONS ON INTERNATIONAL Papers and Reprints partial subscriptions Pat Buchanan percent policies redistribute income representatives from districts Sample School Leaving Age schooling age side agreements STANDARDS AND TRADE support for international support for NAFTA support international labor trade agreements union rate United voted for NAFTA World Bank World Values Surveys