The Impact of North American Free Trade Agreement on Women in the United States, Canada, and Mexico

Abstract

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will prove consequential in the years ahead. Some of the effects will be tremendous and others subtle. Many of the repercussions will be unique for women. Society shapes public policy, and in pursuit of national interests, public policy can take into consideration or neglect the individual. It has been cautioned that short‐term, narrowly focused views leave many individuals unaccounted for; there exists a great danger in making generalizations, particularly when individuals and their lives are at stake. To ensure prosperity for all, all must be considered.

The impact of NAFTA on the Mexican‐American trade

“…Finally, as argued many times, empirical studies are often unable to address other implications of changes in trade, such as working conditions in the areas where jobs are migrating or the environment. These are also issues which need to be analyzed and there are a few theoretical papers addressing them (Atkinson, 1998;Ensign, 2003).…”

Small Business Considerations in Canada

“…But the workforce is less mobile; they will remain, complain and vote. Of the three member nations of NAFTA, Canada may be at the greatest disadvantage (Ensign, 2003).…”

“…It is probable that Canada will continue as a united though greatly decentralised country, but this outcome cannot be taken for granted. Regional or provincial withdrawals are always looming, especially in the case of Quebec (Ensign, 1994).…”

An Examination Of Us FDI Into Mexico And Its Relation To Nafta: Understanding the Effects of Environmental Regulation and the Factor Endowments that Affect the Location Decision

“…In anticipation, the US-instituted budgetary provisions for dealing with temporary worker dislocation. There is, however, some counter-indication that this effort to deal with the unemployed and underemployed will be nominal-the Trade Adjustment Assistance program declined during the 1980s and may be unable to meet the majority of needs (Ensign, 2003).…”

“…Wood (1994) indicated that it is the unskilled worker in the developed country who is most vulnerable to freer trade. A more altruistic position points to humanitarian objections, citing studies that find US MNEs located in the Maquiladora region commit abuses on Mexican workers, particularly women and children (Ensign, 2003).…”