Speeding up justice: The reform that transformed Mexico’s labour courts

Video

Published 16.12.19

How research helped improve the effectiveness of Mexico’s judiciary system and influenced the country’s largest labour law reform in a century

Mexican law provides that cases in its labour courts be resolved within 100 days, but in fact the typical case takes about four years. Professor Christopher Woodruff from Oxford University explains how EDI research helped to improve the effectiveness of the judiciary system and influenced the biggest labour law reform in Mexico in a century. Providing would-be plaintiffs with information on the likely outcome of their case based on around 5,000 historical cases, as well as access for both the worker and her employer to a conciliator, led to a dramatic increase in the resolution of conflicts prior to a suit being filed. 

Editors' note: This video was produced by the Economic Development and Institutions research programme, which is generating new evidence on how positive institutional change can be achieved for inclusive, sustainable economic growth. It is managed by Oxford Policy Management and this project is funded with UK aid from the UK government. For more information, please visit: www.edi.opml.co.uk