Suchergebnisse

We use unique plant-level data to study the link between the local availability of services and the decision of manufacturing firms to source materials from abroad. To guide our empirical analysis we develop a monopolistic-competition model of the materials sourcing decisions of heterogeneous firms. The model generates predictions about how the intensity of international sourcing of materials depends on a firm's productivity and the availability of local services. These predictions are supported by the data. We find evidence that more productive manufacturing firms tend to have a higher ratio of imported materials to sales. In addition, we find evidence that services grease the wheels of international commerce: A greater availability of services across regions, industries and time increases a firm's foreign sourcing of materials relative to sales. Interestingly, this positive impact of local service availability on imports especially applies to stand-alone firms that, unlike multinationals, are less likely to rely on imported or internally provided services.

Intro -- TABLE OF CONTENTS -- FOREWORD -- PREFACE -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- ABBREVIATIONS -- PART ONE: THE INTERNATIONAL LAW OF HUMAN RIGHTS -- CHAPTER 1: HISTORY OF HUMAN RIGHTS -- A. The Development of Public International Law -- B. The Development of Individual Rights -- C. Forerunners of International Human Rights Law -- D. The Birth of International Human Rights Law -- E. Conclusion -- CHAPTER 2: THE CONCEPT OF HUMAN RIGHTS: THEORY AND CONTESTATION -- A. Defining Characteristics of the Concept of Human Rights -- B. Challenges to the Model -- C. Conclusion -- CHAPTER 3: SUBJECTS AND SOURCES OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW -- A. Subjects of International Human Rights Law -- B. Sources of International Human Rights Law -- C. Soft Law -- CHAPTER 4: THE INTERNATIONAL BILL OF HUMAN RIGHTS -- A. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- B. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights -- CHAPTER 5: OTHER UN HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS -- A. Introduction -- B. The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination -- C. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women -- D. The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment -- E. The Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols -- F. The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families -- G. Significant UN Non-Treaty Sources of Human Rights -- CHAPTER 6: REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS -- A. Instruments of the Organization of American States -- B. European Instruments -- C. African Union Instruments -- CHAPTER 7: RELATED FIELDS: INTERNATIONAL LABOUR, REFUGEE, HUMANITARIAN AND CRIMINAL LAW -- A. International Labour Law