This dissertation consists of three distinct papers. The first chapter estimates the labor market value of being bilingual (English-speaking) in Mexico. The second chapter studies employers' ex ante discriminatory practices in China and Mexico. Finally, the third chapter estimates a compensating differential for fatality risk for workers in Mexico. An abstract for each chapter is provided below. Chapter 1 Abstract: In spite of the generally accepted status of English as a lingua franca, the labor market returns to English for its role as an international language are understudied. In this paper I use advertisements from Computrabajo.com.mx to estimate the returns to English in Mexico. I find that the wage premium for English speakers is approximately 28 percent for the sample as a whole.