Some economists look at the role of trade in economic development and conclude that labor standards represent a barrier to economic development. Jeffery Sachs, a famous Harvard economist and a driving force behind the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, was quoted as saying: “My concern is not that there are too many sweatshops but that there are too few.” The United Nations also has a standing body focused on labor protection, called the International Labour Organization (ILO). Visit the ILO website or other websites that argue for protectionism (www.ilo.org). Are these arguments convincing?

Why or why not?