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Trade Liberalization, Technology Import And Employment: Evidence Of Skill Upgrading In The Tunisian Context

Author

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  • Zouhair MRABET

    (Qatar University)

  • Lanouar CHARFEDDINE

    (University of Gabes)

Abstract

There are increasing studies that address the skill upgrading in developing countries. If the theoretical analyses yield different results about the factors of skill upgrading, the issue is mainly empirical questions. This paper contributes and adds to the growing literature on labor market by investigating the impact of trade openness and technology change on employment for skilled and unskilled labor in Tunisia. In this study, we make use of a manufacturing industries annual database of 6 manufacturing industries over the period 1983-2007, provided by the Tunisian National Institute of Statistics, the Quantitative Economic Institute and the Comtrade base of United Nations. Our main empirical result indicates that trade and technology change positively affect absolute and relative skilled labor employment. This result is consistent with studies which support the idea that in developing countries trade liberalization induces skill-biased technology changes.

Suggested Citation

  • Zouhair MRABET & Lanouar CHARFEDDINE, 2013. "Trade Liberalization, Technology Import And Employment: Evidence Of Skill Upgrading In The Tunisian Context," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 37, pages 11-36.
    • Handle: RePEc:tou:journl:v:37:y:2013:p:11-36
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    2. Lanouar Charfeddine & Zouhair Mrabet, 2015. "Trade liberalization and relative employment: further evidence from Tunisia," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 5(1), pages 173-202, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    TRADE LIBERALIZATION; TECHNOLOGY CHANGES; SKILLS;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • C2 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables

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