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Protecting labor rights in preferential trade agreements: The role of trade unions, left governments, and skilled labor

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  • Damian Raess

    (University of Bern
    University of Reading)

  • Andreas Dür

    (University of Salzburg)

  • Dora Sari

    (University of Geneva
    Labor and Worklife Program, Harvard Law School)

Abstract

This paper investigates variation in the design of labor provisions in preferential trade agreements (PTAs) by focusing on the power of trade unions, the role of government partisanship, and the relative strength of skilled labor. We expect strong trade unions and left-leaning governments to be associated with more, and more far-reaching labor provisions in PTAs. We also expect the strength of skilled workers relative to the strength of unskilled workers to negatively correlate with the depth of labor provisions in PTAs. In addition, the effect of trade unions should be conditional on both the presence of left government and democracy. We test these hypotheses relying on an original dataset of labor provisions included in 483 PTAs signed between 1990 and 2016. This dataset covers 140 different labor provisions that relate to six overarching dimensions. The quantitative analysis finds support for the expectations concerning the influence of trade unions and the role of a country’s skill profile.

Suggested Citation

  • Damian Raess & Andreas Dür & Dora Sari, 2018. "Protecting labor rights in preferential trade agreements: The role of trade unions, left governments, and skilled labor," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 143-162, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:revint:v:13:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s11558-018-9301-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11558-018-9301-z
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    Cited by:

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    2. Gordeev, Stepan & Steinbach, Sandro, 2024. "Determinants of PTA design: Insights from machine learning," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    3. Rodrigo Fagundes Cezar, 2022. "The Intricacies of Firms’ Support for Labor Provisions in US Trade Agreements," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 13(4), pages 483-494, September.
    4. Aydin Yildirim & Robert Basedow & Matteo Fiorini & Bernard Hoekman, 2021. "EU Trade and Non‐trade Objectives: New Survey Evidence on Policy Design and Effectiveness," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(3), pages 556-568, May.
    5. Ida Bastiaens & Evgeny Postnikov, 2020. "Social standards in trade agreements and free trade preferences: An empirical investigation," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 793-816, October.
    6. Robertson,Raymond, 2021. "Deep Integration in Trade Agreements : Labor Clauses, Tariffs, and Trade Flows," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9599, The World Bank.
    7. Jose Luis Castillo Mezarina, 2021. "The impact of free trade agreements in national markets: Evidence from the telecommunications sector in Latin America," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 860-903, September.
    8. Renee Bowen & Manfred Elsig, 2018. "Trade and investment: Introduction to the special issue," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 137-142, June.
    9. Edmund J. Malesky & Layna Mosley, 2021. "Labor upgrading and export market opportunities: Evidence from Vietnam," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 483-513, November.
    10. Aaditya Mattoo & Nadia Rocha & Michele Ruta, 2020. "Handbook of Deep Trade Agreements," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 34055.
    11. Jonas AISSI & Rafael PEELS & Daniel SAMAAN, 2018. "Evaluating the effectiveness of labour provisions in trade agreements: An analytical and methodological framework," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 157(4), pages 671-698, December.

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