Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/23285 
Year of Publication: 
2004
Series/Report no.: 
Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge No. 66
Publisher: 
Universität Kassel, Fachbereich Wirtschaftswissenschaften, Kassel
Abstract: 
Economists are often skeptical concerning the economic effects of various forms of human rights: it has been argued that basic human rights can make the legal system less efficient but also that extensive social rights are incompatible with market economies. It is argued here that basic human rights are a precondition for other kinds of rights such as property and civil rights and that they are thus efficiency-enhancing. Four different groups of rights are identified. It is asked what effects they have on welfare and growth. The transmission channels through which the different rights affect welfare and growth are identified by estimating their effects on investment in both physical and human capital and overall productivity. Basic human rights have indeed a positive effect on investment, but do not seem to contribute to productivity. Social or emancipatory rights, in turn, are not conducive to investment in physical capital but do contribute to productivity improvements. None of the four groups of rights ever has a significant negative effect on any of the economic variables here included.
JEL: 
P14
O57
H41
K10
H73
O11
P51
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.