Fragmented Labor Regime: FDI, Labor Regulation, and Workers’ Protests in China

IF 1.2 3区 社会学 Q2 SOCIAL SCIENCES, INTERDISCIPLINARY
Tae-hoon Lim
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Abstract How does the influx of foreign direct investment (FDI) affect labor protests in China? Building on the framework of fragmented authoritarianism, I argue that the regional competition to attract foreign investment causes labor protests in China due to its deregulatory effects on labor regulation. Each actor, including the central and local governments, foreign investors, and workers, has different cost–benefit considerations, which provide an explanation for the link between foreign investment and labor protests. By theorizing each actor's preferences, this article explains how FDI induces labor deregulation and workers’ protests in China. Analyzing China's prefecture-level city data from 2012 to 2018, I find that the influx of FDI is positively associated with labor protests. The result remains robust to alternative model specifications and instrumental variable estimation. I also provide empirical evidence for the deregulatory effect of FDI on labor standards with an analysis at the firm level using the World Bank Enterprise Survey. These findings deepen our understanding of how FDI shapes labor regulation and induces workers’ protests in the context of China.
支离破碎的劳动制度:外国直接投资、劳动法规与中国工人的抗议
摘要外国直接投资的涌入如何影响中国的劳工抗议活动?基于分散的威权主义框架,我认为,吸引外国投资的地区竞争在中国引起了劳工抗议,因为它对劳工监管的放松管制影响。每个参与者,包括中央和地方政府、外国投资者和工人,都有不同的成本效益考虑,这为外国投资和劳工抗议之间的联系提供了解释。本文通过对每个参与者的偏好进行理论分析,解释了外国直接投资如何在中国引发劳动力放松管制和工人抗议。通过分析2012-2018年中国地级市的数据,我发现外国直接投资的流入与劳工抗议活动呈正相关。该结果对替代模型规范和工具变量估计保持稳健。我还利用世界银行企业调查在企业层面进行了分析,为外国直接投资对劳工标准的放松管制效应提供了经验证据。这些发现加深了我们对外国直接投资如何影响中国劳动力监管和引发工人抗议的理解。
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来源期刊
Journal of East Asian Studies
Journal of East Asian Studies SOCIAL SCIENCES, INTERDISCIPLINARY-
CiteScore
1.90
自引率
15.40%
发文量
28
期刊介绍: Experts from around the globe come together in this important peer-reviewed forum to present compelling social science research on the entire East Asia region. Topics include democratic governance, military security, political culture, economic cooperation, human rights, and environmental concerns. Thought-provoking book reviews enhance each issue. Want more information information on Journal of East Asian Studies? Sign up for our E-Alerts for regular updates.
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