International labor standards and trade

From theory alone it is difficult to generalize about the efficiency and equity of linking international labor standards to trade. Some economists contend that international labor standards are merely disguised protectionism. But an evaluation of the factors influencing support for legislation that would ban imports to the United States of goods made with child labor provides little support for the prevailing political economy view In particular, 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. Another finding is that the prevalence of child labor declines sharply with national income. Finally, 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.