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Quantifying the Impact of Trade on Wages: the Role of Nontraded Goods

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  • Stephen Tokarick

Abstract

This paper uses an applied general‐equilbrium model to decompose the effects of changes in trade‐ and technology‐related variables between 1982 and 1996 in the United States on the wages of skilled and unskilled labor. The results indicate that trade‐related variables (tariff cuts, improvement in the terms of trade, and the increase in the trade deficit) had little impact on the widening wage gap. The major factor behind the rise in the skilled wage relative to the unskilled wage was differential rates of growth in skill‐biased technical change across sectors. The paper also highlights the role that nontraded goods play in explaining the wage gap. Finally, the paper presents estimates of how wages would change if the economy moved to autarky. The results show that expanding trade could actually reduce wage inequality, rather than increase it.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Tokarick, 2005. "Quantifying the Impact of Trade on Wages: the Role of Nontraded Goods," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(5), pages 841-860, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:reviec:v:13:y:2005:i:5:p:841-860
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9396.2005.00540.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jonathan E. Haskel & Matthew J. Slaughter, 2003. "Have Falling Tariffs and Transportation Costs Raised US Wage Inequality?," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(4), pages 630-650, September.
    2. Ms. Dalia S Hakura, 1997. "The Impact of Trade Prices on Employment and Wages in the United States," IMF Working Papers 1997/116, International Monetary Fund.
    3. James Harrigan, 2000. "International Trade and American Wages in General Equilibrium, 1967-1995," NBER Chapters, in: The Impact of International Trade on Wages, pages 171-196, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. George J. Borjas & Richard B. Freeman, 1992. "Immigration and the Work Force: Economic Consequences for the United States and Source Areas," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number borj92-1, January.
    5. Mr. Stephen Tokarick, 2002. "Quantifying the Impact of Tradeon Wages: The Role of Nontraded Goods," IMF Working Papers 2002/191, International Monetary Fund.
    6. Thierfelder, Karen & Robinson, Sherman, 2002. "Trade and the skilled-unskilled wage gap in a model with differentiated goods," TMD discussion papers 96, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    Cited by:

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    2. Chi-Chur Chao & Pasquale M. Sgro, 2008. "Environmental Control, Wage Inequality and National Welfare for a Tourism Economy," Working Papers 78, Sapienza University of Rome, CIDEI.
    3. Chi‐Chur Chao & Jean‐Pierre Laffargue & Pasquale M. Sgro, 2010. "Foreign Aid, Wage Inequality, and Welfare for a Small Open Economy with Tourism," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(3), pages 454-464, August.
    4. Ayodele, Olumide S. & Obafemi, Frances N., 2006. "Fiscal and Quasi-Fiscal Effects of the Parallel Exchange Premium in Nigeria," Conference papers 331503, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    5. Roberto Álvarez & Ricardo A. López, 2009. "Skill Upgrading and the Real Exchange Rate," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 1165-1179, August.
    6. Niven Winchester, 2008. "Searching for the Smoking Gun: Did Trade Hurt Unskilled Workers?," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 84(265), pages 141-156, June.
    7. Tyers, Rod, 2015. "International effects of China's rise and transition: Neoclassical and Keynesian perspectives," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 1-19.
    8. Kazuki Tomioka & Rod Tyers, 2016. "Has Foreign Growth Contributed to Stagnation and Inequality in Japan?," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 16-14, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    9. Julian Emami Namini & Ricardo A. López, 2013. "Factor price overshooting with trade liberalization: theory and evidence," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 60(2), pages 139-181, May.
    10. Niven Winchester, 2008. "Trade and Rising Wage Inequality: What Can We Learn from a Decade of Computable General Equilibrium Analysis?," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: David Greenaway & Richard Upward & Peter Wright (ed.), Globalisation and Labour Market Adjustment, chapter 4, pages 54-72, Palgrave Macmillan.
    11. Rod Tyers & Yixiao Zhou, 2023. "Automation and inequality with taxes and transfers," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 70(1), pages 68-100, February.
    12. Henry Thompson & John Francis, 2009. "Tariff Elimination and the Wage Gap in an Industrial Specific Factors Model," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(3), pages 447-460, August.
    13. Roberto Álvarez & Ricardo A. López, 2009. "Skill Upgrading and the Real Exchange Rate," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 1165-1179, August.

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