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Skilled-unskilled wage inequality: A general equilibrium analysis

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  • Gupta, Manash Ranjan
  • Dutta, Priya Brata

Abstract

The paper develops a static three sector competitive general equilibrium model of a small open economy in which skilled labour is mobile between a traded good sector and a non-traded good sector and unskilled labour is specific to another traded good sector. The capital is perfectly mobile among all these three sectors. We examine the effects of change in different factor endowments and of globalization on skilled-unskilled wage inequality. We find that the effect of a change of a factor endowment on wage inequality depends on the factor intensity ranking between two skilled labours using sectors and on the relative strength of the marginal effects on demand for and supply of non-tradable good. We also find that a decrease in the price of the product produced by skilled (unskilled) labour using traded good sector lowers (raises) the skilled-unskilled wage inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Gupta, Manash Ranjan & Dutta, Priya Brata, 2010. "Skilled-unskilled wage inequality: A general equilibrium analysis," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(4), pages 247-263, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reecon:v:64:y:2010:i:4:p:247-263
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    Cited by:

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    2. Xiaochun Li & Yang Ge & Jing Zhou, 2018. "Industrial Upgrading: Rural‐Urban Migrant'S Training Costs And Heterogeneous Labor Migration," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 70(4), pages 483-492, October.
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    4. Gupta Manash Ranjan & Dutta Priya Brata, 2014. "Skilled-Unskilled Wage Inequality, Growth of Skilled Labour and Development Policies," Journal of Globalization and Development, De Gruyter, vol. 5(1), pages 1-26, June.
    5. Manash Ranjan Gupta & Priya Brata Dutta, 2018. "Skilled-unskilled wage inequality and structural transformation in a dual economy," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 311-332, December.
    6. Gupta, Manash Ranjan & Dutta, Priya Brata, 2011. "Skilled-unskilled wage inequality and unemployment: A general equilibrium analysis," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 1977-1983, July.
    7. Priya Brata Dutta, 2014. "Skilled-unskilled wage inequality, product variety and unemployment: A static general equilibrium analysis," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(1), pages 31-55, February.

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