The Economic Effects of Human Rights

Arbeitspapier

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.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge ; No. 66

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Capitalist Systems: Property Rights ; Comparative Studies of Countries ; Public Goods ; Basic Areas of Law: General (Constitutional Law) ; State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations: Interjurisdictional Differentials and Their Effects ; Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development ; Comparative Analysis of Economic Systems
• Subject: Grundrecht ; Menschenrechte ; Sozialrecht ; Investition ; Bildungsinvestition ; Wirtschaftswachstum ; Schätzung ; Wohlfahrtseffekt ; Welt

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Blume, Lorenz ; Voigt, Stefan
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Universität Kassel, Fachbereich Wirtschaftswissenschaften
• (where): Kassel
• (when): 2004

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/23285
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET