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Labor Standards, Development, and CAFTA

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  • Kimberly Ann Elliott

    (Peterson Institute for International Economics)

Abstract

The debate over linking trade and worker rights is often a dialogue of the deaf, with advocates on either side paying little attention to the scope for positive synergies between labor standards, development, and globalization. Instead, each side views the other as promoting positions that will, intentionally or not, impoverish poor people in poor countries. Opponents of global labor standards fear that these standards will undermine developing countries' comparative advantage in low-wage goods or be abused for protectionist purposes, thereby denying workers jobs. Standards advocates argue that failure to include labor standards in trade agreements increases inequality and leads to a race to the bottom for workers worldwide.

Suggested Citation

  • Kimberly Ann Elliott, 2004. "Labor Standards, Development, and CAFTA," Policy Briefs PB04-02, Peterson Institute for International Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:iie:pbrief:pb04-02
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    File URL: https://www.piie.com/publications/policy-briefs/labor-standards-development-and-cafta
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jeffrey J. Schott (ed.), 2004. "Free Trade Agreements: US Strategies and Priorities," Peterson Institute Press: All Books, Peterson Institute for International Economics, number 375, January.
    2. Kimberly Ann Elliott & Richard B. Freeman, 2003. "Can Labor Standards Improve under Globalization?," Peterson Institute Press: All Books, Peterson Institute for International Economics, number 338, January.
    3. Toke Aidt & Zafiris Tzannatos, 2002. "Unions and Collective Bargaining : Economic Effects in a Global Environment," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15241.
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    Cited by:

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    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. Block, Richard N., 2005. "Indicators of labour standards : an overview and comparison," ILO Working Papers 993749993402676, International Labour Organization.
    4. repec:ilo:ilowps:374999 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. repec:dau:papers:123456789/3202 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Galea, Gauden & McKee, Martin, 2014. "Public–private partnerships with large corporations: Setting the ground rules for better health," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(2), pages 138-140.
    7. Gravel, Eric. & Delpech, Quentin., 2013. "The comments of the ILO's supervisory bodies usefulness in the context of the sanction-based dimension of labour provisions in US free trade agreements," ILO Working Papers 994809403402676, International Labour Organization.

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