Trade Liberalization, Capital Imports, and Wage Inequality in Skill-Scarce Economies: The Role of Capital-(un)Skill Complementarity and Skill-Biased Capital Mobility

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ohad Raveh ◽  
Ariell Reshef
2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Ranjan

Abstract The product cycle literature suggests that new goods have a higher skill intensity in the early phase of production, which declines once the production process becomes standardized. Using this insight it is shown how an increase in the rate of neutral technological progress, which frees up resources tied in the production of existing goods, leads to increased production of skill intensive new goods and consequently an increase in wage inequality. When technological progress is exogenous, a decrease in skill endowment or trade liberalization with a skill scarce country increases wage inequality but leaves the composition of production between new and standardized goods unaltered. When the rate of technological progress depends on research effort, trade between a skill-abundant Northern economy and a skill-scarce Southern economy can raise wage inequality in both countries and increase productivity growth in the latter. North-North trade increases both wage inequality and productivity growth.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-46
Author(s):  
Maarten Keune

In the context of rising inequality between capital and labour and among wage-earners in Europe, this state-of-the-art article reviews the literature concerning the relationship between collective bargaining and inequality. It focuses on two main questions: (i) what is the relationship between collective bargaining, union bargaining power and inequality between capital and labour? and (ii) what is the relationship between collective bargaining, union bargaining power and wage inequality among wage-earners? Both questions are discussed in general terms and for single- and multi-employer bargaining systems. It is argued that collective bargaining coverage and union density are negatively related to both types of inequality. These relationships are however qualified by four additional factors: who unions represent, the weight of union objectives other than wages, the statutory minimum wage, and extensions of collective agreements by governments.


2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (02) ◽  
pp. 1250012 ◽  
Author(s):  
FARZANA MUNSHI

This paper provides panel data evidence on trade liberalization and wage inequality in Bangladesh. Estimates from a dynamic model for five major manufacturing industries spanning the 1975–2002 period suggest that the effect of increased openness to trade is associated with a decrease in wage inequality. The result is in line with the theoretical prediction in that greater openness is expected to reduce wage inequality in developing countries.


2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bushra Yasmin

This study analyzes the role of human capital and job attributes, i.e., supply-side determinants, in determining wages in a period of trade liberalization. Using the Mincerian earning function and based on data from the Labor Force Surveys, we construct a model to estimate various wage determinants and compute the rates of return to different educational qualifications and relative occupational wage shares for the years 2005/06 and 1990/91. The estimated earning functions for 1990/91 and 2005/06 are compared to investigate whether individual characteristics—such as gender, job location, nature of job, educational qualifications, and different occupations—cause the wage gap to widen or contract under conditions of trade liberalization. The mean and quantile regression approach is used for estimation purposes. Our key findings postulate (i) an increasing gender pay gap, (ii) a higher wage premium to the highest educational qualification, and (iii) more or less stable relative wages for different occupations over time. In addition, wage dispersion across occupational groups appears more pronounced in 1990/91 than in 2005/06, implying a declining trend in the difference in wage distribution across occupations.


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