International Trade and Core Labor StandardsA Survey of the Recent Literature

Drusilla Brown, Department of Economics Tufts University

5/30/2008
(Original Publish Date: 1/21/2000)

This paper reviews some recent literature that concerns the background, establishment and enforcement of international labor standards. Topics include (1) the selection and justification of core labor standards, (2) the economic events that have driven a demand for international labor standards, particularly growing wage inequality and unemployment in developed countries, (3) evidence on poor protection of core labor standards and export performance, (4) other motivations for internationally imposed core labor standards, (5) the economic effects of core labor standards including the effects of international sanctions imposed on countries with poor labor standards, and (6) the empirical evidence on core labor standards and overall economic growth.