آیا استانداردهای کار مزیت نسبی در کشورهای در حال توسعه را تحت تاثیر می گذارد؟

This paper focuses on the question of whether labor standards can affect comparative advantage in unskilled-labor-intensive goods in developing countries, and thereby influence trade flows. Using a Heckscher–Ohlin framework, the effects of low labor standards depend on the type of standard: Forced and child labor lead to an increase in the endowment of unskilled labor, and hence improve comparative advantage in unskilled-labor-intensive goods; the opposite occurs with discrimination against females; and with basic trade union rights, the outcome is ambiguous. The empirical results confirm the theoretical outcome, but also show that weaker union rights are associated with a stronger comparative advantage.