2016

1. ILO Research paper No. 15

   Decomposing income inequality into factor income components: Evidence from selected G20 countries

   Uma Rani and Marianne Furrer

   This paper examines the factors that have contributed to the level of inequality and its changes over time in 13 selected G20 countries in order to address this at the policy level. The results show that labour income is the most powerful factor contributing to inequality in all countries under analysis. Transfers and benefits are most important factors contributing to reducing inequality.

2. ILO Research paper No. 14

   Global Supply Chain Dynamics and Labour Governance: Implications for Social Upgrading

   Joonkoo Lee

   This paper examines how the emergence and change of the fragmented cross-national production system affects social upgrading in developing countries, focusing on the impact of private governance on labour conditions and workers’ rights. It also discusses the role of private voluntary standards in governing labour relations in GSCs, and their limitations and tensions with buyers’ purchasing practices.

3. ILO Research paper No. 13

   Corporate Social Responsibility in International Trade and Investment Agreements: Implications for States, Business and Workers

   Rafael Peels, Elizabeth Echeverria M., Jonas Aissi, Anselm Schneider

   This paper assesses the reference to CSR commitments in trade and investment agreements and finds that CSR language is relatively weak in terms of obligation, precision and delegation. Emphasising the potential to use the mechanisms that are provided in these agreements to activate and follow-up CSR commitments, it looks at what the implications could be for states, business and workers, and the potential ILO involvement.