Human trafficking has been called the ‘dark side’ of globalization. Interpol estimates that human trafficking is now the third largest transnational crime and the number of victims increases with each passing year. In an effort to combat the crime, the United Nations created the Protocol to...

This study empirically explores the relationship between corruption and the quality of political management in developing nations using a cross-country data set. Specifically, this analysis jointly considers the two theoretical effects of corruption, ‘grease the wheels’ and ‘sand in the...

This study extends prior research regarding country compliance with international anti-human trafficking policies by empirically exploring how country corruption and economic freedom interact to impact compliance. It is posited that efforts to reduce corruption in countries that enjoy greater...

To most economists, personal grooming is a non-market activity. The standard view is that time spent in non-market activities is counterproductive as it reduces work effort and job commitment. But grooming may be different. Grooming provides an important source of communication about workers,...

Over the last decade there has been increasing international pressure on countries to raise "social standards" (i.e., production standards based on environmental and labor conditions). Currently, the World Trade Organization does not allow countries to impose minimum standards on imports based...

This paper analyzes how a country's commitment to labor standards is affected by the relative international political power they possess. Powerful countries may be less committed to actual enforcement of certain labor standards since they are unlikely to face significant threats of international...

Some researchers have argued that globalization has increased the opportunity for corrupt practices, while others state that globalization has lead to a decrease in corruption as countries wishing to join the global economy must comply with international anti-corruption rules and regulations....

Over the last decade there has been increasing international pressure on countries to raise social standards (i.e., production standards based on environmental and labor conditions). Currently, the World Trade Organization does not allow countries to impose minimum standards on imports based on...

The 2006 Congressional elections seemed to be about change, as well as the war in Iraq. The 2008 Presidential election, though only at the primary stage, seems to be about change as well as the war in Iraq and the faltering economy. What is the force behind Americans wanting “change?” Is it...

It is well understood that personal grooming provides an important source of communication about individuals, their values and personalities. From an economic point of view, grooming is a non-market activity. The standard view is that time spent in non-market activities is counterproductive as...