Cross-Border Labor Mobility: Theoretical Perspectives and Empirical Findings

2020 ◽  
pp. 277-315
Author(s):  
Caf Dowlah
Keyword(s):  
Labor Mobility ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives

scholarly journals The Transnationalization of Labor Mobility: Development Trends and Selected Challenges Involved in Its Regulation

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Ludger Pries ◽  
Martina Maletzky
Keyword(s):  
Labor Mobility ◽  
Ideal Types ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Labor Conditions ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Mass Migration ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Term Labor

Internationalization of value chains and of for-profit as well as non-profit organizations, and as a result of cheaper and safer mass migration, transnational labor mobility is of increasing importance. The article presents the development of the different types of cross-border labor mobility (from long-term labor migration over expatriats/inpatriats up to business traveling); it analyses crucial aspects of labor conditions and how the collective regulation of working, employment and participation conditions in general is affected: could local or national forms of labor regulation cope with these new conditions? What are the main challenges when it comes to collective bargaining and the monitoring of labor conditions? The article is based on a three year international and comparative research in Germany and Mexico. First, different ideal types of transnational labor mobility are distinguished that have emerged as a result of increasing cross-border labor mobility. Then potential sources of labor related social inequality and challenges in the regulation of the working, employment and participation conditions for transnational workers are discussed. Finally, some conclusions are drawn for further research.

Cross-border labor mobility

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caf Dowlah
Keyword(s):  
Labor Mobility ◽  
Trade Negotiations ◽  
Doha Round ◽  
Regional Trade ◽  
Economic Interests ◽  
Trade Associations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multilateral Trade ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Interim Measure

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to examine convergence of economic interests – both empirically and theoretically – among labor-abundant (labor-sending) and labor scarce (labor receiving) countries, in the context of Mode 4 of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) of the WTO. The paper also explores regional trade associations as an interim alternative forum for promoting temporary cross-border labor mobility in the backdrop of failure of multilateral trade negotiations under the Doha Round. Design/methodology/approach – The research methodology of the paper involves literature review, an analysis of databases and theoretical findings, and a critical examination of pertinent empirical and secondary information on the subject matter. Findings – The findings reveal that although a convergence of economic interests seem to exist between the labor-sending and receiving countries for promoting cross-border labor mobility, this sector faces formidable trade and non-trade barriers across the world, especially in the developed countries. As multilateral trade negotiations under the Doha Round have failed to make any progress toward liberalization of this sector, regional trade associations, especially those pursued by the USA, Canada and Australia, seem to provide a credible alternative vehicle, as an interim measure, for further liberalization of this sector. These RTAs can serve as examples for other RTAs to promote regional mobility of labor. Research limitations/implications – Cross-border temporary labor mobility, as envisaged by GATs of the WTO, is a burgeoning field. Although some serious works are available, especially sponsored by the World Bank and some leading universities, there is a considerable dearth in this field, especially in respect to contribution from individual scholars and researchers. This paper fills the void to some extent by ascertaining factors and forces that help or hinder cross-border mobility, by pointing out limitations of multilateral trade negotiations under the WTO, and by exploring the regional trade associations as an interim measure for promoting cross-border labor mobility. Practical implications – This paper points out factors and forces that help or hinder cross-border mobility, ascertains crucial limitations of multilateral trade negotiations under the WTO, and explores the RTAs as an interim measure for promoting cross-border labor mobility – all these would have practical policy implications. Originality/value – The originality of the paper lies with its critical and careful review of existing literature and available databases, with the determination of factors and forces that help or hinder cross-border mobility in the contemporary world, in pointing out the limitations of multilateral trade negotiations under the WTO, and in exploring the RTAs as an interim measure for promoting cross-border labor mobility.

scholarly journals Czech–Polish Cross-Border (Non) Cooperation in the Field of the Labor Market: Why Does It Seem to Be Un-De-Bordered?

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hynek Böhm ◽  
Wojciech Opioła
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Labor Mobility ◽  
Entire Length ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Mutual Relations ◽  
High Level ◽  
Cross Border Cooperation

The Czech–Polish border is almost 800 kilometres long. Since 1991, 6 Euroregions and two European Groupings of Territorial Co-operation (EGTC) were created and have been conducting cross-border cooperation (CBC) along the entire length of the border. This was probably also the institutionalisation of cross-border co-operation, what has helped to reach and maintain a high level of mutual Czech–Polish relations. What can therefore be considered striking or surprising is a rather low level of cross-border labor mobility between the labor forces of both countries. Authors therefore attempted to identify projects and initiatives in the field of the cross-border labor market along the entire border. Research showed that the CBC stakeholders don’t prioritise co-operation in the field of the labor market, as they don’t see any real cross-border demand. There are some exceptions, driven mainly by the automotive and mining industries in Czechia attracting a Polish workforce. The main reason for the relatively low level of Czech–Polish cross-border co-operation in the field of the labor market is an absence of a major economic engine on either side of the border, rather than any kind of hostile or re-bordering sentiments in mutual relations between subjects from both countries.

Internationalisation patterns of border firms: speed and embeddedness perspectives

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 438-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva J.B. Jørgensen
Keyword(s):  
International Entrepreneurship ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Start Up ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Born Again ◽  
International Venture ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide new insight concerning a relatively understudied phenomenon in the medium sized enterprise (SME) internationalisation and international entrepreneurship literature; the internationalisation of firms crossing the border to only one adjacent foreign country. These firms are called border firms. This study explores the variety of internationalisation patterns of border firms. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on theoretical perspectives related to speed of internationalisation and country embeddedness, and uses empirical data from seven Norwegian case companies operating across the border between Norway and Russia. Findings – Three different internationalisation patterns of border firms are empirically identified and described; an early single-country path, a born-again border path and a born border path. Then, a model of the distinctive cross-border pathway is developed. Research limitations/implications – Several limitations of this study have implications for further research, such as sample size and setting, the new perspective on country embeddedness and questions related to generalisation of the findings. Practical implications – The study has implications for both entrepreneurs and policy-makers. It demonstrates that internationalisation is not always about “going global” and is sometimes simply a matter of “hopping” across the nearest border. The model demonstrates different possible patterns for how to achieve or support this in practice. Originality/value – This study contributes to theory-building in the field of SME internationalisation and international entrepreneurship in three ways. First, it identifies and defines an interesting but neglected type of international venture; border firms. Second, it explores the different start-up patterns of these firms, their speed and embeddedness. Third, it offers a theoretical framework of the distinct cross-border pathway of internationalisation.

Mode 4 of WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services: Can it spur Cross-Border Labor Mobility from Developing Countries?

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caf Dowlah
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
World Economy ◽  
Labor Mobility ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
High Income ◽  
Global Trade ◽  
Trade Barriers ◽  
Trade In Services ◽  
Economic Interests ◽  
Cross Border

AbstractLiberalization of merchandize trade has brought forth extraordinary gains to world economy in recent decades. Available research, however, suggests that even greater benefits can result from the liberalization of global trade in services. Currently only about 20 percent of services are traded internationally although this sector accounts for more than half of global outputs, and exceeds 75 percent of GDP in high-income countries. Temporary movement of natural persons as service suppliers—as envisaged by GATS-Mode 4 of WTO—is one such services area which promises great benefits to both labor sending and receiving countries, but remains mired in a complex quagmire of trade and non-trade barriers as well as widespread misapprehensions. This paper argues that a basic convergence of economic interests seem to exist between the labor sending and receiving countries for liberalizing temporary movement of natural persons as service suppliers, and that, despite growing anti-immigration sentiments in developed countries, GATS-Mode 4 may be capable of spurring greater cross-border labor mobility.

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