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What are the issues in using trade agreements to improve international labor standards?

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  • BROWN, ANDREW G.
  • STERN, ROBERT M.

Abstract

This paper addresses the issues of whether the linking of core labor standards with multilateral or bilateral trade agreements is an effective way of promoting the improvement of labor standards. We review the determinants of core labor standards over time and conclude that efforts to improve these standards have to be tailored to the economic and social circumstances prevailing in a country at a specific time. Legalistic means to prod governments into revising their domestic laws or enforcing them will therefore be unsuccessful unless economic incentives can be changed to erode prevailing social norms and ease the way for the acceptance of new norms that will meet with public approval and be consonant with the distribution of political power. Moral suasion from both domestic and external sources may work more slowly than more legalistic means but is preferred because it contributes to altering the social norms that underlie and will reinforce the acceptance and effectiveness of labor standards.

Suggested Citation

  • Brown, Andrew G. & Stern, Robert M., 2008. "What are the issues in using trade agreements to improve international labor standards?," World Trade Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 7(2), pages 331-357, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:wotrrv:v:7:y:2008:i:02:p:331-357_00
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Andrew G. Brown & Robert M. Stern, 2011. "Free Trade Agreements and Governance of the Global Trading System," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(3), pages 331-354, March.
    2. Drusilla K Brown & Alan V Deardorff & Robert M Stern, 2013. "Labor Standards and Human Rights: Implications for International Trade and Investment," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Zdenek Drabek & Petros Mavroidis (ed.), Regulation of Foreign Investment Challenges to International Harmonization, chapter 5, pages 153-195, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    3. Jean‐Marie Cardebat & Patrice Cassagnard, 2010. "North South Trade and Supervision of the Social Quality of Goods from the South," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(1), pages 168-178, February.
    4. J. M. Cardebat & Alexandru Dumitrescu, 2013. "Social responsibility of countries and their international trade: A gravitational approach," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(2), pages 234-252, March.
    5. Patrice Cassagnard & Tendai Espinosa, 2022. "From boycott to buycott: is activism from the North good for the South?," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 158(4), pages 1107-1135, November.
    6. Patrice Cassagnard & Tendai Espinosa, 2019. "From Boycott to Buycott: Is Activism from the North Good for the South?," Working Papers hal-02623685, HAL.
    7. Patrice CASSAGNARD & Tendai ESPINOSA, 2019. "From Boycott to Buycott: Is Activism from the North Good for the South?," Working Papers 2019-2020_3, CATT - UPPA - Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, revised Dec 2019.
    8. Jean-Marie Cardebat & Alexandru Dimitrescu, 2011. "Social Responsibility of the countries and their international trade : A gravitational approach," Larefi Working Papers 201102, Larefi, Université Bordeaux 4.
    9. Ekardt, Felix, 2009. "Welthandelsrecht und Sozialstaatlichkeit: Globalisierung und soziale Ungleichheit," Arbeitspapiere 170, Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Düsseldorf.
    10. Patrice Cassagnard & Tendai Espinosa, 2019. "From Boycott to Buycott: Is Activism from the North Good for the South?," Working papers of CATT hal-02623685, HAL.
    11. Andrew G. Brown & Robert M. Stern, 2010. "Fairness in the WTO Trading System," Working Papers 612, Research Seminar in International Economics, University of Michigan.

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