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...