* Analyzes the economic implications and history of international labor standards. * Productively furthers the debate about intervening with international labor standards * Stems from a seminar organized through the Expert Group on Development Issues (EGDI), sponsored by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. .

Part I. Introduction: Kaushik Basu, Henrik Horn, Lisa Román, Judith Shapiro. Part II: The Evolution of Labor Standards:. 1. The History and Political Economy of International Labor Standards: Stanley Engerman (Rochester University). Commentary 1.1 The Parallels Between the Past and the Present: Jane Humphries (All-Souls College, Oxford University). Commentary 1.2 Legislation Versus Bargaining Power: The Evolution of Scandinavian Labor Standards: Karl-Ove Moene and Michael Wallerstein (Oslo University). Part III: The Theory of International Labor Standards:. 2. The Impact of International Labor Standards. A Survey of Economic Theory: Nirvikar Singh (University of California, Santa Cruz). Commentary 2.1 Old Wine in New Bottles?: T.N. Srinivasan (Yale University). Commentary 2.2 Governing Labor Relations: Tore Ellingsen (Stockholm School of Economics). Part IV: The Issue Of Child Labor:. 3. Child Labor: Theory, Evidence and Policy: Drusilla Brown (Tufts University), Alan Deardorff (Michigan University), and Robert Stern (Michigan University). Commentary 3.1 The Political Economy of Child Labor: Alan Krueger (Princeton University). Commentary 3.2 Social Norms, Coordination and Policy Issues in the Fight Against Child Labor: Luis-Felipe López-Calva (El Colegio de Mexico). Part V: The International Organisation and Enforcement of Labor Standards:. 4. A Role For The WTO: Robert Staiger (University of Wisconsin). Commentary 4.1 Trade and Labor Standards. To Link or Not to Link?: Alan L Winters (University of Sussex). Commentary 4.2 The Need to Micro-Manage Regulatory Diversity: Petros Mavroidis (University of Neuchatel). Index.

This book addresses the controversial call for international labor standards, seeking to productively further this debate by considering the economic implications and history of these standards. A result of an initiative by Professor Kaushik Basu in his capacity as member of the Expert Group of Development Issues (EGDI) sponsored by the Swedish Foreign Ministry, the contributions are based on discussions at a seminar held in Stockholm in August 2001. They focus on four central questions: How did the labor standards movement evolve in the past, and what can we learn from its history? What do contemporary economic theories tell us about the possible impact of international labor standards? What solid empirical evidence do economists have about the incidence, causes and effects of child labor? What kind of global institutions do we have or need in order to enforce any agreement on labor standards, and what role should the ILO and WTO play? Compiling the best research in the field, this book provides a solid basis for policy decisions, while also serving as a challenging text for students in trade, development, and labor economics.

Part I. Introduction: Kaushik Basu, Henrik Horn, Lisa Román, Judith Shapiro. Part II: The Evolution of Labor Standards. Part III: The Theory of International Labor Standards. Part IV: The Issue Of Child Labor. Part V: The International Organisation and Enforcement of Labor Standards. Index.