International labor standards and trade

Abstract

From theory alone it is difficult to generalize about the efficiency and equity of linking international labor standards to trade. However an evaluation of the factors influencing support for legislation that would ban imports to the USA of goods made with child labor provides little support for the prevailing political economy view. Members of Congress representing districts with a high proportion of unskilled workers, who are most likely to compete with child labor, are less likely to support a ban on imports made with child labor. Finds that the prevalence of child labor declines sharply with national income; and an analysis of compulsory schooling laws, which are often suggested as an alternative to prohibiting child labor, finds a tremendous amount of noncompliance in developing countries. There are comments and a discussion, pages 303-315.