Law and Employment: Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean (National Bureau of Economic Research Conference Report)

Law and Employment analyzes the effects of regulation and deregulation on Latin American labor markets and presents empirically grounded studies of the costs of regulation. Numerous labor regulations that were introduced or reformed in Latin America in the past thirty years have had important economic consequences. Nobel Prize-winning economist James J. Heckman and Carmen Pagés document the behavior of firms attempting to stay in business and be competitive while facing the high costs of complying with these labor laws. They challenge the prevailing view that labor market regulations affect only the distribution of labor incomes and have little or no impact on efficiency or the performance of labor markets. Using new micro-evidence, this volume shows that labor regulations reduce labor market turnover rates and flexibility, promote inequality, and discriminate against marginal workers. Along with in-depth studies of Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Jamaica, and Trinidad, Law and Employment provides comparative analysis of Latin American economies against a range of European countries and the United States. The book breaks new ground by quantifying not only the cost of regulation in Latin America, the Caribbean, and in the OECD, but also the broader impact of this regulation. Along With In-depth Studies Of Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Jamaica, And Trinidad, Law And Employment Provides Comparative Analysis Of Latin American Economics Against A Range Of European Countries And The United States. The Book Breaks New Ground By Quantifying Not Only The Cost Of Regulation In Latin America, The Caribbean, And In The Oecd, But Also The Broader Impact Of This Regulation.--book Jacket. Measuring The Impact Of Minimum Wages / William F. Maloney And Jairo Nun̋ez Mendez -- Labor Market Reforms And Their Impact Over Formal Labor Demand And Job Market Turnover / Jaime Saavedra And Máximo Torero -- Effect Of Job Security Regulations On Labor Market Flexibility / Adriana D. Kugler -- Determinants Of Labor Demand In Columbia, 1976-1996 / Mauricio Cárdenas And Raquel Bernal -- Impact Of Regulations On Brazilian Labor Market Performance / Ricardo Paes De Barros And Carlos Henrique Corseuil -- Effects Of Labor Market Regulations On Employment Decisions By Firms / Guilermo Mondino And Silvia Montoya -- Who Benefits From Labor Market Regulations? Chile, 1960-1998 / Claudio E. Montenegro And Carment Pagés -- Unions And Employment In Uruguay / Adriana Cassoni, Steven G. Allen, And Gaston J. Labadie -- Labor Market Policies And Employment Duration / Hugo A. Hopenhayn -- Labor Market Regulation And Employment In The Caribbean / Andrew S. Downes, Nlandu Mamingi, And Rose-marie Belle Antoine -- Labor Demand In Latin America And The Caribbean / Daniel S. Hamermesh. Edited By James J. Heckman And Carmen Pagés. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Also Available Online. 1......Page 1 2......Page 12 3......Page 120 4......Page 142 5......Page 194 6......Page 240 7......Page 284 8......Page 362 9......Page 412 10......Page 446 11......Page 508 12......Page 528 13......Page 564 14......Page 574