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The Impact of Privatization of State-Owned Enterprises on Workers

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Listed:
  • David Arnold

Abstract

While privatization of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) remains a popular policy tool in many countries, the impacts on workers are unclear. This paper studies the case of Brazil, which implemented a large privatization program in the 1990s. Following privatization, incumbent workers in privatized SOEs suffer a wage decline of roughly 25 percent relative to a matched control group. Additionally, private sector firms that are connected to privatized SOEs by labor mobility also reduce wages. A summary calculation suggests that privatization decreased the formal sector wage by 3 percent, with about two-thirds of this effect due to the indirect impact on private sector workers.

Suggested Citation

  • David Arnold, 2022. "The Impact of Privatization of State-Owned Enterprises on Workers," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 14(4), pages 343-380, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejapp:v:14:y:2022:i:4:p:343-80
    DOI: 10.1257/app.20190428
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Gerard, François & Lagos, Lorenzo & Severnini, Edson & Card, David, 2018. "Assortative Matching or Exclusionary Hiring? The Impact of Firm Policies on Racial Wage Differences in Brazil," CEPR Discussion Papers 13273, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Karthik Muralidharan & Paul Niehaus & Sandip Sukhtankar, 2023. "General Equilibrium Effects of (Improving) Public Employment Programs: Experimental Evidence From India," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 91(4), pages 1261-1295, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alzate, David & Carranza, Eliana & Duran-Franch, Joana & Packard, Truman & Proffen, Celina, 2024. "How Regulations Impact the Labor Market: A Review of the Literatures on Product and Labor Market Regulations," IZA Discussion Papers 17536, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Joaquín Matías Liwski, 2023. "Should I stay or should I go? Effects of being acquired on employee outcomes: evidence from Brazil," Young Researchers Working Papers 13, Universidad de San Andres, Departamento de Economia, revised Feb 2023.
    3. Brolhato,Sara & Xavier Cirera & Antonio Soares Martins Neto, 2025. "Businesses of the State in Brazil : The Impact on Employment and Business Dynamism," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11082, The World Bank.
    4. Demir, Gökay, 2024. "Labor Market Frictions and Spillover Effects from Publicly Announced Sectoral Minimum Wages," IZA Discussion Papers 17510, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Hellmann, Thomas & Montag, Alexander & Tåg, Joacim, 2024. "Tolerating Losses for Growth: J-Curves in Venture Capital Investing," Working Paper Series 1500, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    6. Demir, Gökay, 2023. "Labor Market Frictions and Spillover Effects from Publicly Announced Sectoral Minimum Wages," IZA Discussion Papers 16204, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Demir, Gökay, 2022. "Labor market frictions and spillover effects from publicly announced sectoral minimum wages," Ruhr Economic Papers 985, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • L32 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Public Enterprises; Public-Private Enterprises
    • L33 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Comparison of Public and Private Enterprise and Nonprofit Institutions; Privatization; Contracting Out
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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