Do International Treaties Promote Development? The Convention on the Rights of the Child and Basic Immunization
Little evidence is available on whether changing global rules so as to promote human rights can enhance development outcomes. The Convention on the Rights of the Child was almost universally ratified by the mid-1990s, but it is unclear whether trea...
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| Format: | Policy Research Working Paper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2012
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| Online Access: | http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20090617092305 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/4158 |
| Summary: | Little evidence is available on whether
changing global rules so as to promote human rights can
enhance development outcomes. The Convention on the Rights
of the Child was almost universally ratified by the
mid-1990s, but it is unclear whether treaty ratification was
associated with better or wider protection of children s
rights. This paper uses an instrumental variable approach to
investigate whether treaty ratification was associated with
stronger effort at the country level on child survival, and
particularly with higher rates of immunization coverage. The
paper finds that ratification of the Convention on the
Rights of the Child was correlated with a subsequent
increase in immunization rates, but only in upper middle and
high-income countries. Treaties can promote development
outcomes, but require institutional support to do so. |
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