Regulation and Productivity in the Quebec Manufacturing Sector

Charles Dufour, Paul Lanoie and Michel Patry

CIRANO Working Papers from CIRANO

Abstract: We investigate the impact of occupational safety and health (OSH) and environmental regulation on the rate of growth of total factor productivity (TFP) in the Quebec manufacturing sector during the 1985-88 period. Our results show that environmental regulation and OSH protective reassignments (a prevention policy with respect to OSH) have led to a reduction in productivity growth, while the presence of mandatory prevention programs and of fines for infractions to OSH rules have led to an increase in productivity growth. Interestingly, this is, to our knowledge, the first result showing that OSH regulation may have had a positive effect on productivity growth. Nous évaluons l'impact qu'ont eu les réglementations en matière de santé et sécurité du travail et d'environnement sur la croissance de la productivité totale des facteurs (PTF) du secteur manufacturier québécois au cours des années 1985-88. Nos résultats montrent que la réglementation environnementale et les réaffectations préventives (une mesure de prévention des accidents de travail) ont réduit la croissance de la productivité, alors que les mesures de prévention obligatoires et l'importance des amendes imposées pour infraction aux normes du travail ont augmenté la productivité. Notre étude est la première, à notre connaissance, qui indique un effet potentiellement positif de la réglementation sur la croissance de la productivité.

Keywords: Environmental regulationl Safety and health regulation; Productivity, Réglementation environnementale; Réglementation de la santé et de la sécurité du travail; Productivité (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D24 L6 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1995-02-01
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cir:cirwor:95s-12

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