Question 1

Which region has the highest proportion of its children working?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which region has the highest proportion of...

Question 2

Child labor is a common family survival strategy,especially for farmers in rural areas where it is hard to enforce rules or to reach the poor with any supporting infrastructure or social services.

Accepted Answer

Child labor is often seen as a way for families to make ends meet, particularly in rural areas where poverty and lack of opportunities are common. Enforcement of laws and access to social services may be limited in these areas, making it difficult to combat child labor.

Question 3

Empirical studies show that countries with low standards are very successful at attracting foreign investment.

Accepted Answer

Empirical studies generally show that countries with higher standards, particularly in terms of legal and regulatory frameworks, infrastructure, and labor skills, are more successful at attracting foreign investment. Investors often seek stable and predictable environments that ensure the safety and profitability of their investments.

Question 4

When countries try to ban child labor,

Accepted Answer

When countries try to ban child labor, it often goes underground and children may end up working in the informal economy, family enterprises, and remote areas. This is because of the demand for child labor in certain industries and the poverty of families who rely on their children's income. Therefore, banning child labor does not guarantee that all children will start attending school or that family poverty decreases. GDP may also not increase as a result of the ban.

Question 5

In what industrial sector are children most likely to be working?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In what industrial sector are children most...

Question 6

One reason why the plants of multinational corporations abroad may have better standards than domestic contractors in low-income countries is because multinational corporations tend to reduce costs by using one standard in terms of capital equipment and technology for all markets.

Accepted Answer

Multinational corporations often implement uniform standards across all their operations to streamline processes, ensure quality, and comply with international regulations, which can lead to higher standards in their plants abroad compared to local contractors in low-income countries who might not have access to the same level of resources or technology.

Question 7

Which of the following is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Agriculture is the main industry using child labor, with millions of children working in farming worldwide.

Question 8

Transborder environmental impacts can take place when one country's pollution spills over into a second country in all of the following situations except

Accepted Answer

The production of exported products degrading the local environment is a domestic issue rather than a transborder environmental impact, as it affects the environment within the country of production rather than spilling over into another country.

Question 9

Which region has the most children (total number)working?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which region has the most children (total...

Question 10

The claim that lower environmental standards in foreign countries reduce industrial competitiveness for high standard countries is on firm theoretical ground because

Accepted Answer

Higher environmental standards requirements raise the cost of production to a firm or industry abiding by the rules, which puts them at a disadvantage compared to competitors operating in countries where environmental standards are laxer.

Question 11

The International Labor Organization has been around since 1919,and has a consistent record of being willing to take action against countries that violate core labor standards.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The International Labor Organization has been around...

Question 12

One claim that trade barrier proponents use to enforce environmental standards is that

Accepted Answer

Trade barrier proponents argue that enforcing environmental standards is necessary because firms may relocate their dirty industries to developing countries with lower standards, known as "exporting pollution." This can harm the environment and workers in those countries. Option A is incorrect because there is some evidence that high environmental standards can increase costs and reduce competitiveness. Option C is incorrect because labor and environmental standards are different issues with different impacts. Option D is incorrect because some environmental impacts can cross borders, such as air and water pollution.

Question 13

Low labor standards are usually associated with

Accepted Answer

The answer of Low labor standards are usually associated with
...

Question 14

Countries that compete by offering foreign firms a reduced set of environmental compliance requirements are known as

Accepted Answer

Countries that offer reduced environmental compliance requirements in order to attract foreign firms are known as pollution havens. These countries are often seen as having lower environmental standards and therefore attract firms looking to avoid more stringent regulations in their home countries.

Question 15

Discriminatory trade practices are allowed among sister WTO member countries,especially when it comes to

Accepted Answer

Discriminatory trade practices are allowed among WTO members for reasons related to national security and when special benefits are given to members of a free trade area, as these are exceptions under WTO rules.

Question 16

There is clear evidence of a race-to-the-bottom internationally,regarding working conditions and the environment.

Accepted Answer

While concerns about a "race to the bottom" in terms of working conditions and environmental standards have been raised, empirical evidence is mixed. Some studies suggest that globalization and competition can lead to improved standards through mechanisms like increased trade with countries having higher standards, foreign direct investment from firms in countries with stringent regulations, and the spread of international norms and agreements.

Question 17

While Africa has the largest numbers of working children,Asia has the highest proportion of working children,with an estimated one in four employed.

Accepted Answer

Asia does not have the highest proportion of working children; Africa does, with the highest rates of child labor in terms of both absolute numbers and proportion relative to the population.

Question 18

Developing countries are usually unwilling to negotiate over labor standards because

Accepted Answer

Developing countries often rely heavily on industries such as agriculture and textiles/apparel for their economic growth and fear that agreeing to higher labor standards could lead to their market access being restricted by industrialized nations. They also worry that without some protection of their industries, they may not be able to compete on the global market.

Question 19

Using trade barriers to address labor standards does all of the following except it

Accepted Answer

Using trade barriers to address labor standards can lead to deadweight losses, redistribute income, and potentially make conditions worse as production moves to the informal sector. However, it does not necessarily work more effectively for smaller countries. In fact, smaller countries may face more significant costs and risks by implementing trade barriers.

Question 20

Some proponents of trade sanctions argue for changes in policy because they fear low standards will be used to capture markets and foreign investment.While theoretically possible,there is little or no support for the view that countries use low labor standards this way,because

Accepted Answer

Countries with low labor standards often struggle to attract foreign investment (A), and while low standards can reduce costs, they do not alter a country's comparative advantage (B).

Quiz 8: International Trade and Labor and Environmental Standards