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Trade-Induced Structural Change and the Skill Premium

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  • Javier Cravino
  • Sebastian Sotelo

Abstract

We study how international trade affects manufacturing employment and the relative wage of unskilled workers when goods and services are traded with different intensities. Manufacturing trade reduces manufacturing prices worldwide, which reduces manufacturing employment if manufactures and services are complements. International trade also raises real income, which reduces manufacturing employment if services are more income elastic than manufactures. Manufacturing production is unskilled-labor-intensive, so that these changes increase the skill premium. We incorporate these mechanisms in a quantitative trade model and show that reductions in trade costs had a negative impact on manufacturing employment and the relative wage of unskilled workers.

Suggested Citation

  • Javier Cravino & Sebastian Sotelo, 2019. "Trade-Induced Structural Change and the Skill Premium," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 11(3), pages 289-326, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejmac:v:11:y:2019:i:3:p:289-326
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/mac.20170434
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • L60 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - General

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