In defence of labour market institutions : cultivating justice in the developing world / edited by Janine Berg and David Kucera.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Berg, Janine.

Kucera, David, 1960-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Labor market--Developing countries.

Labor market.

Developing countries.

Physical Description:

xvi, 293 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Basingstoke [England] ; New York : Palgrave Macmillan ; Geneva, Switzerland : International Labour Office, 2008.

Summary:

Labour market institutions have been blamed for the poor economic performance of many developing countries. Based on theoretical and empirical evidence, an interdisciplinary group of researchers demonstrate that the evidence on which this argument rests is weak. The volume provides an understanding of why formal labour market regulations and policies were implemented in developing countries and how informal values and norms also influence the workings of the labour market. It also analyses the economic effect that these institutions can have while shedding light on conceptual and methodological questions that have plagued the debate.

This volume counters the prevailing view that labour market institutions are equated with labour market rigidity, and offers economic and social reasons for maintaining certain policies and standards, differentiating between the needs and challenges of countries with varying levels of income. Book jacket.

Contents:

1.1 The labour market flexibility debate 1

2 Labour Institutions in the Developing World: Historical and Theoretical Perspectives / Janine Berg, David Kucera 9

2.2 What are labour institutions? 11

2.3 History of labour standards and the ILO 15

2.4 International labour standards: Are they relevant? 19

2.5 The debate on labour market flexibility 22

3 Measuring Labour Market Institutions: Conceptual and Methodological Questions on 'Working Hours Rigidity' / Sangheon Lee, Deirdre McCann 32

3.2 A review of the indicators 34

3.3 Methodological and conceptual questions on measuring working time 'rigidity' 37

3.4 Legal texts and actual hours: de jure and de facto regulation 45

4 Institutions and the Finance of General Skills Training: Evidence from Africa / Irmgard Nubler 64

4.2 Strategic decision of firm and worker: a trust game 65

4.3 Evidence from Africa 70

5 The Origins of Unemployment Insurance: Lessons for Developing Countries / Janine Berg, Matthew Salerno 80

5.2 The different ways of compensating unemployment 81

5.3 The origins of unemployment insurance 83

5.4 Is unemployment insurance suitable for developing countries? 91

5.5 Is unemployment insurance the right approach? 95

6 The Revival of Minimum Wage Setting Institutions / Francois Eyraud, Catherine Saget 100

6.2 Minimum wage setting institutions 101

6.3 The minimum wage and collective bargaining 102

6.4 The minimum wage and poverty 106

6.5 Workers with no form of wage protection 108

6.6 The minimum wage and wage inequality 111

6.7 The minimum wage and employment 112

7 What Can the Labour Demand Function Tell Us About Wages and Employment? The Case of the Philippines / Jesus Felipe, J.S.L. McCombie 119

7.2 Derivation of the elasticity of demand for labour 123

7.3 A more parsimonious interpretation 125

7.4 Do minimum wages cause unemployment in the Philippines? 128

7.5 The Philippine labour demand function 134

7.6 Do increases in the minimum wage rate induce increases in the average wage rate in the Philippines? 137

8 The Impact of Trade Unions: What Do Economists Say? / Zafiris Tzannatos 150

8.2 You need three to tango: workers, employers and governments 151

8.3 Empirical evidence: microeconomic 159

8.4 Empirical evidence: macroeconomic 171

9 Labour Standards and Informal Employment in Latin America / Rossana Galli, David Kucera 192

9.2 Prior empirical evidence for Latin America 196

9.3 Employment data definitions, sources and overview 198

9.4 Labour standards and formal and informal employment 200

10 Legal Determinants of Labour Informality / Jose Luis Daza Perez 218

10.2 Concepts and definitions on informality at work 219

10.3 The legal framework of labour: the reality of the scope of labour law regarding inclusions, exclusions and exemptions 223

10.4 Attitude of states towards informality 228

10.5 Conclusion: policies to incorporate workers and informal activities into the formal economy 231

11 New Trends in Latin American Labour Reforms: The Law, its Reform and its Impact in Practical Terms / Maria Luz Vega Ruiz 233

11.2 Main amendments to labour relations 239

11.3 Main amendments to collective labour relations 251.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 264-282) and index.

ISBN:

0230538053

9780230538054

9789221193197

9221193195

OCLC:

183928600

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description