Labor Market Rigidities, Trade and Unemployment

Labor Market Rigidities, Trade and Unemployment PDF Author: Elhanan Helpman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Employment (Economic theory)
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Book Description
We study a two-country two-sector model of international trade in which one sector produces homogeneous products while the other produces differentiated products. The differentiated-product industry has firm heterogeneity, monopolistic competition, search and matching in its labor market, and wage bargaining. Some of the workers searching for jobs end up being unemployed. Countries are similar except for frictions in their labor markets. We study the interaction of labor market rigidities and trade impediments in shaping welfare, trade flows, productivity, price levels and unemployment rates. We show that both countries gain from trade but that the flexible country -- which has lower labor market frictions -- gains proportionately more. A flexible labor market confers comparative advantage; the flexible country exports differentiated products on net. A country benefits by lowering frictions in its labor market, but this harms the country's trade partner. And the simultaneous proportional lowering of labor market frictions in both countries benefits both of them. The model generates rich patterns of unemployment. Specifically, trade integration -- which benefits both countries -- may raise their rates of unemployment. Moreover, differences in rates of unemployment do not necessarily reflect differences in labor market rigidities; the rate of unemployment can be higher or lower in the flexible country. Finally, we show that the flexible country has both higher total factor productivity and a lower price level, which operates against the standard Balassa-Samuelson effect.

Labor Market Rigidities, Trade and Unemployment

Labor Market Rigidities, Trade and Unemployment PDF Author: Elhanan Helpman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Employment (Economic theory)
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Book Description
We study a two-country two-sector model of international trade in which one sector produces homogeneous products while the other produces differentiated products. The differentiated-product industry has firm heterogeneity, monopolistic competition, search and matching in its labor market, and wage bargaining. Some of the workers searching for jobs end up being unemployed. Countries are similar except for frictions in their labor markets. We study the interaction of labor market rigidities and trade impediments in shaping welfare, trade flows, productivity, price levels and unemployment rates. We show that both countries gain from trade but that the flexible country -- which has lower labor market frictions -- gains proportionately more. A flexible labor market confers comparative advantage; the flexible country exports differentiated products on net. A country benefits by lowering frictions in its labor market, but this harms the country's trade partner. And the simultaneous proportional lowering of labor market frictions in both countries benefits both of them. The model generates rich patterns of unemployment. Specifically, trade integration -- which benefits both countries -- may raise their rates of unemployment. Moreover, differences in rates of unemployment do not necessarily reflect differences in labor market rigidities; the rate of unemployment can be higher or lower in the flexible country. Finally, we show that the flexible country has both higher total factor productivity and a lower price level, which operates against the standard Balassa-Samuelson effect.

Labor Market Rigidities and the Political Economy of Trade Protection

Labor Market Rigidities and the Political Economy of Trade Protection PDF Author: Xenia Matschke
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Labor market rigidities are commonly believed to be a major reason for imposing trade impediments. In this paper, I introduce labor market rigidities (such as influential trade unions and high unemployment benefits), that are prevalent in continental European countries, into the well-known Grossman and Helpman (1994) protection for sale model, which has emerged as the leading model in the political economy of trade protection literature. I show that contrary to commonly held views, these labor market rigidities do not necessarily increase equilibrium trade protection. A testable equilibrium trade protection equation is also derived. The findings in this paper are hence particularly relevant for empirical tests of trade policy determinants in economies with more regulated labor markets.

Trade, Labor Market Rigidities, and Government-financed Technological Change

Trade, Labor Market Rigidities, and Government-financed Technological Change PDF Author: Winfried Koeniger
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Labor Market Rigidities and Unemployment

Labor Market Rigidities and Unemployment PDF Author: Patrizia Canziani
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 200

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Models of Unemployment in Trade and Economic Development

Models of Unemployment in Trade and Economic Development PDF Author: Bharat Hazari
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134975767
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 159

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Book Description
The impact of increased levels of international trade on domestic labour markets is a key issue for policy makers in both developed and less developed countries. This book considers the most important current issues in this area in the context of models which examine the relationship between trade and employment. It is divided into three parts. The first deals with unemployment, decay and the `Dutch Disease': the second with structural adjustment, urban unemployment and protectionism; the last offers some variations on models of unemployment. In parts one and two the important insights are that minimum wages may cause decay rather than growth and that disaggregation of non-traded goods between urban and rural regions is of critical importance in structural adjustment, protectionism and the real exchange rate. In part three, segmented labour market theory is used to explain urban and disguised unemployment and the importance of proper agricultural policies for rural development is emphasised. Finally the impact of technology transfers on employment in both donor and recipient countries is explored.

Labor Market Rigidities and Unemployment in Europe

Labor Market Rigidities and Unemployment in Europe PDF Author: Horst Siebert
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 36

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Unemployment and Labor Market Rigidities

Unemployment and Labor Market Rigidities PDF Author: Denis Drechsler
Publisher: VDM Publishing
ISBN: 9783836429665
Category : Labor market
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Many European countries have experienced a significant increase of unemployment in recent years. This publication reviews several theoretical models that try to explain this phenomenon. Predominantly, these models claim a link between the poor performance of European labor markets and the high level of market regulation. Commonly referred to as the Eurosclerosis debate, prominent approaches consider insider-outsider relationships, search-models, and the influence of hiring and firing costs on equilibrium employment. The publication presents empirical evidence of each model and studies the relevance of the identified rigidities as a determinant of high unemployment in Europe. Furthermore, a case study analyzes high unemployment rates in Germany and critically discusses recent reform efforts. This study provides a sober and unprejudiced analysis of the European labor market and its weaknesses. According to the author's convincing argument, substantial efforts are still needed in the areas of institutional reform and incentive-based labor market policy. The book is a must read for political and economic decision-makers. Prof. Dr. Klaus F. Zimmermann; Director; Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Germany. A superb piece, well documented, comprehensive and with many useful insights and policy recommendations, on one of the most important topics in Europe. A must for all those interested in unemployment and labor market issues. Javier Santiso; Acting Director and Chief Economist; OECD Development Centre, France.

International Trade and Labor Markets

International Trade and Labor Markets PDF Author: Udo Kreickemeier
Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company
ISBN: 9789813224902
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 421

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Book Description
This volume collects theoretical papers on the labor market effects of international trade that Udo Kreickemeier has published, together with different co-authors, over the past decade. Many contributions contained in this volume feature labor market imperfections that give rise to involuntary unemployment, and in those contributions, the question of how trade affects aggregate employment typically takes center stage in the analysis. Another recurring theme in many papers is the link between international trade and the income distribution within countries. The channels explored in the different papers include union wage premia, exporter wage premia due to firm-level rent sharing, and ability premia to entrepreneurs that are able to capitalize on their high productivity in global markets.

The Labor Market and Economic Adjustment

The Labor Market and Economic Adjustment PDF Author: Pierre-Richard Agénor
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1451854781
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 98

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Book Description
This paper examines the role of the labor market in the transmission process of adjustment policies in developing countries. It begins by reviewing the recent evidence regarding the functioning of these markets. It then studies the implications of wage inertia, nominal contracts, labor market segmentation, and impediments to labor mobility for stabilization policies. The effect of labor market reforms on economic flexibility and the channels through which labor market imperfections alter the effects of structural adjustment measures are discussed next. The last part of the paper identifies a variety of issues that may require further investigation, such as the link between changes in relative wages and the distributional effects of adjustment policies.

International Trade and Labor Markets

International Trade and Labor Markets PDF Author: Carl Davidson
Publisher: W.E. Upjohn Institute
ISBN: 0880992743
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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