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Employment adjustments to increased imports: Evidence from a developing country

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  • Beyza Ural Marchand

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of imports from developed countries on industry‐specific employment in India between 1983 and 2010. The identification strategy relies on comparing differential changes in import exposure across regions to the differential changes in employment within industries. The variation in the changes in imports to other developing countries is used to identify the component of the changes in imports driven by world demand. The results suggest that the increase in import exposure during the post‐liberalization period reduced agricultural employment but increased employment in manufacturing, business, and social services. No significant impacts were found in the pre‐liberalization period.

Suggested Citation

  • Beyza Ural Marchand, 2025. "Employment adjustments to increased imports: Evidence from a developing country," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 43(3), pages 520-538, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:43:y:2025:i:3:p:520-538
    DOI: 10.1111/coep.12691
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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