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Employment protection and firm relocation: Theory and evidence

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  • Dewit, Gerda
  • Görg, Holger
  • Temouri, Yama

Abstract

We examine the determinants of the decision to relocate activities abroad for firms located in OECD countries. We argue that particular firm-specific features play a crucial role for the link between employment protection and relocation. Stricter employment protection laws in the current production location discourage firms' relocation abroad. While larger, more productive firms and firms with higher labour intensities have, ceteris paribus, higher propensities to relocate, they also face higher exit barriers if the country from which they consider relocating has strict employment protection laws. Our predictions are supported empirically, using firm level data for 28 OECD countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Dewit, Gerda & Görg, Holger & Temouri, Yama, 2018. "Employment protection and firm relocation: Theory and evidence," Kiel Working Papers 2102, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ifwkwp:2102
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    Cited by:

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    2. Guopei Fang & Holger Görg & Aoife Hanley & Haiou Mao, 2022. "Foreign Divestment – Crisis or Chance for China's Innovation Edge?," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 30(6), pages 1-33, November.
    3. Mao, Haiou & Görg, Holger & Fang, Guopei, 2023. "Time to Say Goodbye? The Impact of Environmental Regulation on Foreign Divestment," IZA Discussion Papers 16406, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Mao, Haiou & Görg, Holger & Fang, Guopei, 2023. "Time to say goodbye? The impact of environmental regulation on foreign divestment," KCG Working Papers 27, Kiel Centre for Globalization (KCG).
    5. Mao, Haiou & Görg, Holger & Fang, Guopei, 2023. "Time to say goodbye? The impact of environmental regulation on foreign divestment," Kiel Working Papers 2255, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    6. Sulistiyo K. Ardiyono & Arianto A. Patunru, 2022. "The impact of employment protection on FDI at different stages of economic development," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(12), pages 3679-3714, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Employment Protection; Relocation; Multinational Enterprises;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production
    • J88 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Public Policy

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