Murray Weidenbaum

About the author: Murray Weidenbaum is chairman of the Center for the Study of American Business at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

American buyers should not force overseas sweatshops to abide by a seemingly more enlightened labor standard that would guarantee factory workers good pay and shorter hours. Such a requirement would force many overseas manufacturers out of business; in addition, U.S. companies would face increased price competition from foreign industries who would continue to use sweatshop labor. Instead of requiring sweatshops to adopt higher labor standards, consumers should recognize that the use of child labor and low-wage workers is a normal stage in the industrial development of poor nations. As these nations become more economically successful, they will abandon exploitative labor practices.

Economists seem destined to speak out in favor of unpopular causes. A current...