Labor Markets in Latin America by Sebastian Edwards, Nora Cla... - 9780815721079

Labor Markets in Latin AmericaCombining Social Protection with Market Flexibility\nAuthor(s): Sebastian Edwards, Nora Claudia Lustig\nFormat: Paperback\nPublisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, United States\nImprint: Brookings Institution\nISBN-13: 9780815721079, 978-0815721079\nSynopsis\nMany of the rules that govern labor markets in Latin America (and elsewhere) raise labor costs, create barriers to entry, and introduce rigidities in the employment structure. These include the exceedingly restrictive regulations on hiring and firing practices, as well as burdensome social insurance schemes. Such labor market regulations contribute to an over-expansion of precarious forms of employment and to rural poverty, and hinder countries from responding rapidly to new challenges from increased foreign competition.\nAt the same time, other norms can reduce costs and raise productivity; they should be kept in place and their enforcement improved. For example, some occupational health and safety su