One world of labour regulation, two worlds of trade: examples of Belgium and Brazil

One world of labour regulation, two worlds of trade: examples of Belgium and Brazil

Supposedly, labour regulation makes firms less competitive in international markets. This paper studies the adoption of labour laws in Belgium before 1914 and Brazil in the 1920s. In the two countries, regulation induced investments in new plant and equipment. The rise in labour productivity made Be...

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Veröffentlicht in:European review of economic history 2013-08, Vol.17 (3), p.251-271
1. Verfasser: HUBERMAN, MICHAEL
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Economic growth
Economic history
Employment
Exports
Foreign investment
International markets
International trade
Labor law
Labor market
Manufacturing
Per capita
Productivity
Regulated industries
Studies
Tariffs
Textile industry
Textiles
World War I
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Zusammenfassung:Supposedly, labour regulation makes firms less competitive in international markets. This paper studies the adoption of labour laws in Belgium before 1914 and Brazil in the 1920s. In the two countries, regulation induced investments in new plant and equipment. The rise in labour productivity made Belgian firms better exporters in the context of expanding world trade. Brazil did not reap similar gains because international trade was collapsing.
ISSN:1361-4916
1474-0044
DOI:10.1093/ereh/hes021