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Labour market adjustment to third‐party competition: Evidence from Mexico

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  • Raymond Robertson
  • Timothy J. Halliday
  • Sindhu Vasireddy

Abstract

China's exports reduce wages in importing countries, but few studies have looked at competition in third‐party markets. We examine labour market outcomes in Mexico's apparel and textile sectors associated with US apparel and textile imports from China. Using data on US imports in conjunction with quarterly Mexican labour force surveys, we show that US imports from China are associated with a reduction of employment in Mexico's apparel and textile sectors. These effects are the most pronounced for the least educated. Wages were not impacted on net except for possibly the poorest which would indicate stronger local labour market ties in the left tail of the wage distribution. Finally, the effects of trade‐induced demand shocks dissipate after about two quarters indicating low firm‐level adjustment costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Raymond Robertson & Timothy J. Halliday & Sindhu Vasireddy, 2020. "Labour market adjustment to third‐party competition: Evidence from Mexico," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(7), pages 1977-2006, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:worlde:v:43:y:2020:i:7:p:1977-2006
    DOI: 10.1111/twec.12918
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    Cited by:

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    2. Sandra Orozco-Aleman & Heriberto Gonzalez-Lozano, 2021. "Return Migration and Self-Employment: Evidence from Mexican Migrants," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 42(2), pages 148-183, June.
    3. Óscar Rodil-Marzábal & Ana Laura Gómez Pérez & Hugo Campos-Romero, 2022. "The Global Textile and Apparel Value Chain: From Mexico–US–China Linkages to a Global Approach," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-18, October.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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