Labour standards and international competitiveness

This book assesses the impact of labour standards on the competitiveness of firms through a comparison of developing and industrialized countries. The lack of a strict code of labour standards in developing countries is thought to result in unfair competition, which industrialized countries have used to justify protectionist policies. Developing countries are seen to oppose the adoption of labour standards, believing that such measures are likely to jeopardize their competitiveness in world markets. This book analyses both these positions within the context of the current political debate on the subject. Labour Standards and International Competitiveness will be welcomed by academics interested in international economics, developing economics and labour economics, as well as by policy makers and practitioners working in international organizations.