Globalization and labor rights: Perspectives from developed countries

Abstract

Globalization through trade, finance, and migration has affected the modern world in ways that is unprecedented in human history. However, globalization is facing headwind in developed countries forcing the world to re-evaluate the costs and benefits of rapid globalization. In this paper, we examine the impact of globalization on labor rights in developed countries. Using recently available Cambridge University Labor Regulation Index we show that workers in developed countries faced gradual but continuous decline in key components of labor rights protection since 1980s. This to an extent explains increasing unpopularity of globalization among the working class.