The impact of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) on collective labor rights in developing countries

Do bilateral investment treaties (BITs) affect collective labor rights in developing countries? BITs lock in pre-existing low labor standards that are attractive to vertical foreign direct investment, which represents a potential source of labor grievances and protests. Since foreign investors are likely to challenge labor unrest under stringent BITs, host governments are forced to take measures to undermine workers’ ability to engage in...