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Where Symbolism Prospers: An Analysis of the Impact on Enabling Rights of Labour Standards Provisions in Trade Agreements with South Korea

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  • Gerda Van Roozendaal

    (Department of International Relations and International Organization, Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Can trade agreements be used as a tool for improving the conditions under which people work? The evidence from this study suggests this is not the case, even if the country in question—in this instance South Korea—is a well-developed and democratic country. While over the past six years South Korea has taken part in a number of Free Trade Agreements containing labour provisions, the impact of these on enabling rights has been rather low. This would suggest that without the willingness to enforce these parts of the agreements, or without the willingness to implement them on the Korean side, the inclusion of such provisions remains a fairly symbolic undertaking.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerda Van Roozendaal, 2017. "Where Symbolism Prospers: An Analysis of the Impact on Enabling Rights of Labour Standards Provisions in Trade Agreements with South Korea," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(4), pages 19-29.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v:5:y:2017:i:4:p:19-29
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Davies, Ronald B. & Vadlamannati, Krishna Chaitanya, 2013. "A race to the bottom in labor standards? An empirical investigation," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 1-14.
    2. Potrafke, Niklas, 2013. "Globalization and labor market institutions: International empirical evidence," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 829-842.
    3. Jan Orbie & Lore Van den Putte & Deborah Martens, 2017. "The Impact of Labour Rights Commitments in EU Trade Agreements: The Case of Peru," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(4), pages 6-18.
    4. Gerda van Roozendaal, 2015. "The Diffusion of Labour Standards: The Case of the US and Guatemala," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 3(2), pages 18-33.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jan Orbie & Lore Van den Putte & Deborah Martens, 2017. "The Impact of Labour Rights Commitments in EU Trade Agreements: The Case of Peru," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(4), pages 6-18.
    2. Nienke de Deugd & Gerda van Roozendaal, 2022. "Hiding in Plain Sight: The Legitimacy of Labour Standards Clauses in the EU–Ukraine Collaboration," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10(3), pages 121-130.
    3. Jan Orbie & Gerda Van Roozendaal, 2017. "Labour Standards and Trade: In Search of Impact and Alternative Instruments," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(4), pages 1-5.

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