Labor and Global Supply Chains

At the turn of the 21st century the growth of international trade has raised concerns about working conditions in factories and plantations producing for consumers in North America and Europe. Consumers have become increasingly aware of the sometimes demanding and dangerous working conditions and the plight of child workers. Workers' organizations complain of their goods competing against those of workers denied the rights of free association and collective bargaining. This course examines the realities of work in global supply chains and the role that markets and market failure play in determining working conditions. Consumer, policymaker, and labor concerns including the establishment and coordination of international labor standards, corporate codes of conduct, enforcement in the World Trade Organization and International Labor Organization, monitoring of working conditions, and other remedies are analyzed. Intended as intermediate level course. Prerequisites: Economics 13 (or Economics 14) and 16.