National Regulation in a Global Economy: New Governance Approaches to 21st Century Work Law

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW AND ECONOMICS, Dau-Schmidt, Harris & Lobel, eds., Edward Elgar Publishing, 2008

San Diego Legal Studies Paper No. 08-058

79 Pages Posted: 17 Aug 2008

See all articles by Orly Lobel

Orly Lobel

University of San Diego School of Law

Abstract

This chapter for the Encyclopedia of Labor and Employment Law and Economics, discusses government regulation of the labor market in the 21st Century, with a particular emphasis on the need to maintain competitiveness in an era of globalization. The chapter first considers the 'race to the bottom' analysis, which predicts that a nation will experience depressed compensation and downward pressures on its regulatory system if the system provides comparatively high protections. It identifies theoretical and empirical findings both supporting and refuting predictions of a race to the bottom and portrays a more complex picture of the effects of globalization on national regulation. The chapter then describes the declining but continuing role of the state in the global economy. Mandatory labor market regulation is a common response to market failure. At the same time, traditional regulation is itself prone to a range of inefficiencies and failures. Given the continuing need for government intervention, the limits of traditional command-and-control regulation, and the growing pressures to liberalize markets, regulators around the world have developed increasingly innovative third-way approaches to regulation, often collectively referred to as the 'new governance model.' New governance approaches to regulation involve a more active role for private companies and organizations. Examples from various countries are discussed.

Keywords: globalization, national regulation, race-to-the-bottom, employment law, labor markets, new governance, growth, law and economics, empirical economics, comparative law, European union

JEL Classification: J40, J41, J60, K21, K31, K12, J24, J23, L60, L51, D60, H1

Suggested Citation

Lobel, Orly, National Regulation in a Global Economy: New Governance Approaches to 21st Century Work Law. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW AND ECONOMICS, Dau-Schmidt, Harris & Lobel, eds., Edward Elgar Publishing, 2008, San Diego Legal Studies Paper No. 08-058, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1226362

Orly Lobel (Contact Author)

University of San Diego School of Law ( email )

5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.orlylobel.com/

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
313
Abstract Views
2,868
Rank
176,750
PlumX Metrics