EH.Net Abstracts in Economic History

                ABSTRACTS IN ECONOMIC HISTORY
                     (c) 2007 EH.Net
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Name: Michael Huberman
Email: michael.huberman at umontreal.ca
Institution: Universite de Montreal

Co-author: Chris Meissner
University of Cambridge
Faculty of Economics
Sidgwick Avenue. Cambridge
CB3 9DD UK
Emmail: chris.meissner at econ.cam.ac.uk

Title: Are Your Labor Standards Set in China?  Evidence from the First Great Wave of Globalization, 1870-1914

Internet Address of abstracted work: not available

By mail:
Histoire
Universite de Montreal, CP 6128
Montreal Quebec
H3C 3J7 Canada

Language: English

Abstract:
If there is a relation between trade and labor
standards, it ought to turn up during the first
wave of globalization. Between 1870 and 1914, the
world moved from unregulated to regulated labor
markets and levels of trade openness rose. In
this paper, bringing together new international
data sets on labor regulations and social
entitlements, and bilateral trade data, we ask
whether labor standards affected exports
adversely. We find no particularly strong
evidence that labor standards had long-term and
enduring effects on trade, although in the short
run more protective labor regulation lowered
exports. Confronted with the new reality of
regulated labor markets, firms adjusted the
capital to labor mix.

Bibliography: Huberman, Michael and Chris
Meissner. "Are Your Labor Standards Set in China?
Evidence from the First Great Wave of
Globalization, 1870-1914." Universite de Montreal
and University of Cambridge, working paper. 2007.

Subject: S
Geographical Area: 0
Country/Region:
Time Period: 7,8

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