Do International Labor Standards Contribute to the Persistence of the Child Labor Problem?

Matthias Doepke and Fabrizio Zilibotti

No 15050, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: In recent years, a number of governments and consumer groups in rich countries have tried to discourage the use of child labor in poor countries through measures such as product boycotts and the imposition of international labor standards. The purported objective of such measures is to reduce the incidence of child labor in developing countries and thereby improve children's welfare. In this paper, we examine the effects of such policies from a political-economy perspective. We show that these types of international action on child labor tend to lower domestic political support within developing countries for banning child labor. Hence, international labor standards and product boycotts may delay the ultimate eradication of child labor.

JEL-codes: J20 J88 O10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev
Note: EFG POL
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Published as Matthias Doepke & Fabrizio Zilibotti, 2009. "International Labor Standards and the Political Economy of Child-Labor Regulation," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 7(2-3), pages 508-518, 04-05.
Published as Matthias Doepke & Fabrizio Zilibotti, 2010. "Do international labor standards contribute to the persistence of the child-labor problem?," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 1-31, March.

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Journal Article: Do international labor standards contribute to the persistence of the child-labor problem? (2010)
Working Paper: Do International Labor Standards Contribute to the Persistence of the Child Labor Problem? (2009)
Working Paper: Do International Labor Standards Contribute to the Persistence of the Child Labor Problem? (2009)
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