As a result, lead levels in children have dropped. Dire economic predictions failed to materialize as car makers developed hardened valve seats and other innovations to compensate for the loss of the lubricant. The 1974 Sullivan Principles, which later formed the basis for a 1986 law, led investors to pull millions from South Africa because of its apartheid policies. Nelson Mandela later cited the resulting economic isolation as a key factor in convincing white South Africans to abandon apartheid. In short, Americans will pay a bit more when they are convinced it will help spare others pain.
Child labor is a clear case of such an avoidable aim.
A label similar to the Rugmark sign adopted by rug importers signifying no child labor was used to make their products could be adopted by garment makers, as the labor secretary suggests. With the thornier question of wages, garment makers could earn the confidence of the public by adopting a set of Sullivan Principles setting out rules for a reasonable workday and working conditions by which their suppliers must abide. Some argue that workers will suffer if consumers demand better conditions. That argument was heard when bans were sought on child labor in the dark mills of Victorian England. It was heard again, more recently, in South Africa.