Publisher Description

This book addresses the controversial call for international labor standards, seeking to productively further this debate by considering the economic implications and history of these standards. A result of an initiative by Professor Kaushik Basu in his capacity as member of the Expert Group of Development Issues (EGDI) sponsored by the Swedish Foreign Ministry, the contributions are based on discussions at a seminar held in Stockholm in August 2001. Compiling the best research in the field, this book provides a solid basis for policy decisions, while also serving as a challenging text for students in trade, development, and labor economics.

• 
  
• Analyzes the economic implications and history of international labor standards.
  
• Productively furthers the debate about intervening with international labor standardsStems from a seminar organized through the Expert Group on Development Issues (EGDI), sponsored by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Back Cover

This book addresses the controversial call for international labor standards, seeking to productively further this debate by considering the economic implications and history of these standards. A result of an initiative by Professor Kaushik Basu in his capacity as member of the Expert Group of Development Issues (EGDI) sponsored by the Swedish Foreign Ministry, the contributions are based on discussions at a seminar held in Stockholm in August 2001. They focus on four central questions:

• How did the labor standards movement evolve in the past, and what can we learn from its history?
  
• What do contemporary economic theories tell us about the possible impact of international labor standards?
  
• What solid empirical evidence do economists have about the incidence, causes and effects of child labor?
  
• What kind of global institutions do we have or need in order to enforce any agreement on labor standards, and what role should the ILO and WTO play?

Compiling the best research in the field, this book provides a solid basis for policy decisions, while also serving as a challenging text for students in trade, development, and labor economics.

Flap

This book addresses the controversial call for international labor standards, seeking to productively further this debate by considering the economic implications and history of these standards. A result of an initiative by Professor Kaushik Basu in his capacity as member of the Expert Group of Development Issues (EGDI) sponsored by the Swedish Foreign Ministry, the contributions are based on discussions at a seminar held in Stockholm in August 2001. They focus on four central questions: How did the labor standards movement evolve in the past, and what can we learn from its history? What do contemporary economic theories tell us about the possible impact of international labor standards? What solid empirical evidence do economists have about the incidence, causes and effects of child labor? What kind of global institutions do we have or need in order to enforce any agreement on labor standards, and what role should the ILO and WTO play? Compiling the best research in the field, this book provides a solid basis for policy decisions, while also serving as a challenging text for students in trade, development, and labor economics.

Author Biography

Kaushik Basu is Professor of Economics and Carl Marks Professor of International Studies in the Economics Department at Cornell University. He is Editor of Social Choice and Welfare and Associate Editor of The Journal of Economic Perspectives and The Journal of Development Economics. He is the author of many books and articles, including The Less Developed Economy, (Blackwell Publishers, 1984), Lectures in Industrial Organization Theory (Blackwell Publishers, 1993), and Analytical Development Economics (1997).
Henrik Horn is Professor of International Economics at Stockholm University. His current research focuses on various aspects of the WTO, with particular emphasis on the functioning of its Dispute Settlement system.
Lisa Román is the Secretary to the Expert Group on Development Issues (EGDI) and has been with the secretariat since 1999. She has a background as a development economist and is the author of Institutions in Transition: Vietnamese State Bank Reform (1999).
Judith Shapiro is Professor of Health Economics at the New Economic School, and has been a member of the EGDI since 1995. She is the author of a number of articles on Russian health, labor and mortality, and three co-authored books on transformation and integration in Eastern Europe.

Table of Contents

Part I. Introduction: Kaushik Basu, Henrik Horn, Lisa Román, Judith Shapiro. Part II: The Evolution of Labor Standards:. 1. The History and Political Economy of International Labor Standards: Stanley Engerman (Rochester University). Commentary 1.1 The Parallels Between the Past and the Present: Jane Humphries (All-Souls College, Oxford University). Commentary 1.2 Legislation Versus Bargaining Power: The Evolution of Scandinavian Labor Standards: Karl-Ove Moene and Michael Wallerstein (Oslo University). Part III: The Theory of International Labor Standards:. 2. The Impact of International Labor Standards. A Survey of Economic Theory: Nirvikar Singh (University of California, Santa Cruz). Commentary 2.1 Old Wine in New Bottles?: T.N. Srinivasan (Yale University). Commentary 2.2 Governing Labor Relations: Tore Ellingsen (Stockholm School of Economics). Part IV: The Issue Of Child Labor:. 3. Child Labor: Theory, Evidence and Policy: Drusilla Brown (Tufts University), Alan Deardorff (Michigan University), and Robert Stern (Michigan University). Commentary 3.1 The Political Economy of Child Labor: Alan Krueger (Princeton University). Commentary 3.2 Social Norms, Coordination and Policy Issues in the Fight Against Child Labor: Luis-Felipe López-Calva (El Colegio de Mexico). Part V: The International Organisation and Enforcement of Labor Standards:. 4. A Role For The WTO: Robert Staiger (University of Wisconsin). Commentary 4.1 Trade and Labor Standards. To Link or Not to Link?: Alan L Winters (University of Sussex). Commentary 4.2 The Need to Micro-Manage Regulatory Diversity: Petros Mavroidis (University of Neuchatel). Index.

Review

'Questions relating to international labour standards have been the subject of much controversy and research as several unions and some rich-country governments have sought to advance them through sanctions while most poor-country governments and some important and sizeable democratic unions in them have opposed this. This volume is an important and timely contribution to this debate, providing scholarly and penetrating research to illuminate the issues at stake. It is a classic that must be studied by everyone engaged in this debate.' Jagdish Bhagwati, Columbia University

'International Labor Standards is an extremely valuable and wide-ranging introduction to current debates over labor standards. The book gives a detailed history of standards; a broad and even-handed view of economic arguments for and against standards; and serious discussion of the problem of child labor. [It] concludes with an intriguing analysis of the potential role of the World Trade Organization in helping to raise standards. In place of the vitriole and rhetoric that the debate over standards all too often degenerates into, this volume is a serious investigation of what we know and do not know in this area.' Richard Freeman, London School of Economics
'This impressive book brings together some of the best research on the important and controversial topic of international labor standards. The contributions are illuminating and provocative, and they provide a valuable scientific foundation for policy debates.' Kyle Bagwell, Columbia University

Long Description

This book addresses the controversial call for international labor standards, seeking to productively further this debate by considering the economic implications and history of these standards. A result of an initiative by Professor Kaushik Basu in his capacity as member of the Expert Group of Development Issues (EGDI) sponsored by the Swedish Foreign Ministry, the contributions are based on discussions at a seminar held in Stockholm in August 2001. They focus on four central questions: How did the labor standards movement evolve in the past, and what can we learn from its history? What do contemporary economic theories tell us about the possible impact of international labor standards? What solid empirical evidence do economists have about the incidence, causes and effects of child labor? What kind of global institutions do we have or need in order to enforce any agreement on labor standards, and what role should the ILO and WTO play? Compiling the best research in the field, this book provides a solid basis for policy decisions, while also serving as a challenging text for students in trade, development, and labor economics.

Review Text

?Questions relating to international labour standards have been the subject of much controversy and research as several unions and some rich-country governments have sought to advance them through sanctions while most poor-country governments and some important and sizeable democratic unions in them have opposed this. This volume is an important and timely contribution to this debate, providing scholarly and penetrating research to illuminate the issues at stake. It is a classic that must be studied by everyone engaged in this debate.? Jagdish Bhagwati, Columbia University

?International Labor Standards is an extremely valuable and wide-ranging introduction to current debates over labor standards. The book gives a detailed history of standards; a broad and even-handed view of economic arguments for and against standards; and serious discussion of the problem of child labor. [It] concludes with an intriguing analysis of the potential role of the World Trade Organization in helping to raise standards. In place of the vitriole and rhetoric that the debate over standards all too often degenerates into, this volume is a serious investigation of what we know and do not know in this area.? Richard Freeman, London School of Economics
?This impressive book brings together some of the best research on the important and controversial topic of international labor standards. The contributions are illuminating and provocative, and they provide a valuable scientific foundation for policy debates.? Kyle Bagwell, Columbia University

Review Quote

& 'Questions relating to international labour standards have been the subject of much controversy and research as several unions and some rich-country governments have sought to advance them through sanctions while most poor-country governments and some important and sizeable democratic unions in them have opposed this. This volume is an important and timely contribution to this debate, providing scholarly and penetrating research to illuminate the issues at stake. It is a classic that must be studied by everyone engaged in this debate.' Jagdish Bhagwati, Columbia University& 'International Labor Standards is an extremely valuable and wide-ranging introduction to current debates over labor standards. The book gives a detailed history of standards; a broad and even-handed view of economic arguments for and against standards; and serious discussion of the problem of child labor. [It] concludes with an intriguing analysis of the potential role of the World Trade Organization in helping to raise standards. In place of the vitriole and rhetoric that the debate over standards all too often degenerates into, this volume is a serious investigation of what we know and do not know in this area.' Richard Freeman, London School of Economics& 'This impressive book brings together some of the best research on the important and controversial topic of international labor standards. The contributions are illuminating and provocative, and they provide a valuable scientific foundation for policy debates.' Kyle Bagwell, Columbia University

Feature

• 
  
• Analyzes the economic implications and history of international labor standards.
  
• Productively furthers the debate about intervening with international labor standards
  
• Stems from a seminar organized through the Expert Group on Development Issues (EGDI), sponsored by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Details