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Industrial and geographical mobility of workers exiting the Swedish and West German shipbuilding industry 1970-2000

Author

Listed:
  • Anne Otto
  • Rikard Eriksson
  • Martin Henning

Abstract

This paper follows the industry employment histories of all individuals at some point affiliated with the declining German and dismantling Swedish shipbuilding industries 1970-2000. We analyse the situation of the individual workers leaving shipbuilding through investigating to what extent they were employed at all, tended to move to related sectors inside or outside the region, and whether such moves were beneficial for the individuals. Drawing on recent research in especially Evolutionary Economic Geography and the impact of inter-industry relatedness on the prospects of regional economic change, we find remarkably similar results for the West German and Swedish case. Our findings indicate a notable impact of both geographical and industrial frictions of movement, and of the regional industry structure on the labor market outcomes for the workers leaving shipbuilding. These findings are discussed within the context of a mature industry in developed economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne Otto & Rikard Eriksson & Martin Henning, 2015. "Industrial and geographical mobility of workers exiting the Swedish and West German shipbuilding industry 1970-2000," ERSA conference papers ersa15p958, European Regional Science Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa15p958
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    File URL: https://www-sre.wu.ac.at/ersa/ersaconfs/ersa15/e150825aFinal00958.pdf
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    2. Jacob Rubæk Holm & Christian Richter Østergaard & Thomas Roslyng Olesen, 2017. "Destruction And Reallocation Of Skills Following Large Company Closures," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(2), pages 245-265, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Geographic Labor Mobility; Industry Studies;

    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • L60 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - General

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