About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

13 J. Int'l Trade L. & Pol'y 2 (2014)

handle is hein.journals/jitlp13 and id is 1 raw text is: The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/1477-0024.htm JITLP 13,1 2 Received 28 December 2012 Revised 21 September 2013 Accepted 20 January 2014 Journal of International Trade Law and Policy Vol 13 No. 1, 2014 pp. 2-18 © Emerald Group Publishing Limited 1477-0024 DOI 10.11081J1TLP-12-2012-0020 Cross-border labor mobility A critical assessment of WTO's GATS Mode 4 vis- d- vis regional trade agreements Caf Dowlah Department of Social Sciences, Queensborough College, The City University of New York, New York, USA Abstract Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to examine convergence of economic interests - both empirically and theoretically - among labor-abundant (labor-sending) and labor scarce (labor receiving) countries, in the context of Mode 4 of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) of the WTO. The paper also explores regional trade associations as an interim alternative forum for promoting temporary cross-border labor mobility in the backdrop of failure of multilateral trade negotiations under the Doha Round. Design/methodology/approach - The research methodology of the paper involves literature review, an analysis of databases and theoretical findings, and a critical examination of pertinent empirical and secondary information on the subject matter. Findings - The findings reveal that although a convergence of economic interests seem to exist between the labor-sending and receiving countries for promoting cross-border labor mobility, this sector faces formidable trade and non-trade barriers across the world, especially in the developed countries. As multilateral trade negotiations under the Doha Round have failed to make any progress toward liberalization of this sector, regional trade associations, especially those pursued by the USA, Canada and Australia, seem to provide a credible alternative vehicle, as an interim measure, for further liberalization of this sector. These RTAs can serve as examples for other RTAs to promote regional mobility of labor. Research limitations/implications - Cross-border temporary labor mobility, as envisaged by GATs of the WTO, is a burgeoning field. Although some serious works are available, especially sponsored by the World Bank and some leading universities, there is a considerable dearth in this field, especially in respect to contribution from individual scholars and researchers. This paper fills the void to some extent by ascertaining factors and forces that help or hinder cross-border mobility, by pointing out limitations of multilateral trade negotiations under the WTO, and by exploring the regional trade associations as an interim measure for promoting cross-border labor mobility. Practical implications - This paper points out factors and forces that help or hinder cross-border mobility, ascertains crucial limitations of multilateral trade negotiations under the WTO, and explores the RTAs as an interim measure for promoting cross-border labor mobility - all these would have practical policy implications. Originality/value - The originality of the paper lies with its critical and careful review of existing literature and available databases, with the determination of factors and forces that help or hinder cross-border mobility in the contemporary world, in pointing out the limitations of multilateral trade negotiations under the WTO, and in exploring the RTAs as an interim measure for promoting cross-border labor mobility. Keywords Cross-border labor mobility, GATS Mode 4, Regional trade associations, Remittance flows, Service sector liberalization, WTO negotiations, Workers' remittance, Regional trade agreements Paper type Research paper This paper is an outgrowth of a research project on cross-border labor mobility undertaken by the author as a Visiting US Fulbright Scholar in 2012-2013. The author is grateful to the US State Department for sponsoring the project. The author is also grateful to anonymous referees for their highly constructive comments and suggestions, which improved the paper significantly. The author, however, takes full responsibility of the contents of the paper.

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most