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The Labour Footprint: A Framework To Assess Labour In A Complex Economy

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  • Jorge Gómez-Paredes
  • Eiji Yamasue
  • Hideyuki Okumura
  • Keiichi N. Ishihara

Abstract

As addressing labour becomes crucial in the move towards sustainability, there is the need for assessment tools suitable for current complex economic systems. This article presents an input--output based framework (‘labour footprint’) for evaluating labour issues behind the production of different economic commodities, including entire supply chains. In line with the guidelines of the International Labour Organization, six labour issues are considered: collective bargaining, forced labour, child labour, gender inequality, hazardous work, and social security. This conceptual article sets to (a) define this footprint's labour dimensions, (b) cite relevant data sources, (c) describe its calculation, (d) illustrate its application through a case study, and (e) discuss this framework's relevance from ‘conscious consumption’, ‘supply chain responsibility’, and regulators' standpoints. Since it advances the evaluation of fundamental labour issues and the scope of multi-criteria analyses, this footprint may be a valuable tool for sustainability assessments.

Suggested Citation

  • Jorge Gómez-Paredes & Eiji Yamasue & Hideyuki Okumura & Keiichi N. Ishihara, 2015. "The Labour Footprint: A Framework To Assess Labour In A Complex Economy," Economic Systems Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(4), pages 415-439, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ecsysr:v:27:y:2015:i:4:p:415-439
    DOI: 10.1080/09535314.2014.998173
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Turner, Karen & Lenzen, Manfred & Wiedmann, Thomas & Barrett, John, 2007. "Examining the global environmental impact of regional consumption activities -- Part 1: A technical note on combining input-output and ecological footprint analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(1), pages 37-44, April.
    2. Starr, Martha A., 2009. "The social economics of ethical consumption: Theoretical considerations and empirical evidence," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 916-925, December.
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    4. Tania Bucic & Jennifer Harris & Denni Arli, 2012. "Ethical Consumers Among the Millennials: A Cross-National Study," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 110(1), pages 113-131, September.
    5. Wiedmann, Thomas & Wilting, Harry C. & Lenzen, Manfred & Lutter, Stephan & Palm, Viveka, 2011. "Quo Vadis MRIO? Methodological, data and institutional requirements for multi-region input-output analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(11), pages 1937-1945, September.
    6. repec:ilo:ilowps:377936 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Halliki Kreinin & Ernest Aigner, 2022. "From “Decent work and economic growth” to “Sustainable work and economic degrowth”: a new framework for SDG 8," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 49(2), pages 281-311, May.
    2. Rosa Duarte & Cristina Sarasa & Mònica Serrano, 2019. "Structural change and female participation in recent economic growth: a multisectoral analysis for the Spanish economy," Economic Systems Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(4), pages 574-593, October.
    3. Ángela García-Alaminos & Fabio Monsalve & Jorge Zafrilla & Maria-Angeles Cadarso, 2020. "Unmasking social distant damage of developed regions’ lifestyle: A decoupling analysis of the indecent labour footprint," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Seksan Papong & Norihiro Itsubo & Yuya Ono & Pomthong Malakul, 2016. "Development of Social Intensity Database Using Asian International Input–Output Table for Social Life Cycle Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-25, November.
    5. Seksan Papong & Norihiro Itsubo & Pomthong Malakul & Masanori Shukuya, 2015. "Development of the Social Inventory Database in Thailand Using Input–Output Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-30, June.
    6. Timon Bohn & Steven Brakman & Erik Dietzenbacher, 2019. "Who's afraid of Virginia WU? The labor composition and labor gains of trade," CESifo Working Paper Series 7527, CESifo.
    7. Giovanni Marin & Roberto Zoboli, 2016. "The integrated economic and environmental footprint of the EU: domestic and global effects of a transition to services," SEEDS Working Papers 0816, SEEDS, Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies, revised Aug 2016.
    8. Ángela García‐Alaminos & Fabio Monsalve & Jorge Zafrilla, 2024. "Disentangling social impacts in global value chains through structural path analysis: Investigating forced labor in the cotton industry," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 28(2), pages 303-319, April.

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