Labor Clauses in Preferential Trade Agreements: How Do They Affect Informality?

• 발행기관: 세종대학교 경제통합연구소
• 저자명: Rihab Bellakhal Sonia Ben Kheder Houda Haffoudhi
• 간행물 정보: 『Journal of Economic Integration』제40권 제2호, 437~467쪽, 전체 31쪽
• 주제분류: 경제경영 > 경제학
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2025.05.31

국문 초록

We study the effect of the labor clauses (LCs) in preferential trade agreements (PTAs) on the informal economy. Using a sample comprising 112 countries for the period 2000-2017, we show that PTAs increase informality in low- and middle-income economies (LMIEs), regardless of whether LCs are included or not. This result is confirmed when accounting for the heterogeneity of parties to the agreement. Finally, PTAs with LCs whose implementation relies on deep cooperation mechanisms decrease informality in LMIEs when their partners are high-income economies. The policy implication is that LMIEs should foster the integration of LCs enforced through deep cooperation mechanisms.

목차

I. Introduction

II. Literature Review

III. Data

IV. Empirical analysis

V. Robustness Checks

VI. Conclusion

References

키워드

Preferential Trade Agreements Labor Clauses Informal Economy