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The Distributional and Allocative Impacts of Virtual Labor Mobility across Time Zones through Communication Networks

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  • Noritsugu Nakanishi
  • Ngo Van Long

Abstract

Using a specific-factors' model, with two goods (a shift-working good and a non-shift-working good), three factors (capital specific to shift-working, land specific to non-shift-working and labor) and two countries (Home and Foreign), which are located in different time zones, we highlight the impact of trade in labor services via communication networks on factor prices and production patterns. If two countries are identical in size, then under free trade in labor services, all workers work only in their local daytime, and night shift in each country is performed by imported labor services supplied by residents of the other country in their local daytime. Night-time wage becomes the same as daytime wage (a wage equalization result). Other factor prices are also equalized. In both countries, capital rental rate increases, while land rent decreases. However, if two countries are different in size, trade in labor services does not equalize wages: in the large country, wages for night-shift workers are higher than daytime wages and some residents work at night; in the small country, daytime wages become higher than night-time wages and no one works at night, and night-shift work is done by imported labor services from the large country. Land rent in the small country decreases. Land rent in the large country may or may not decrease, but it is always higher than in the small country. Capital rental rates in both countries are equalized and increase.

Suggested Citation

  • Noritsugu Nakanishi & Ngo Van Long, 2015. "The Distributional and Allocative Impacts of Virtual Labor Mobility across Time Zones through Communication Networks," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(3), pages 638-662, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:reviec:v:23:y:2015:i:3:p:638-662
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    Cited by:

    1. Biswajit Mandal & Alaka Shree Prasad, 2020. "A simple model of time zone differences, virtual trade and informality," Indian Growth and Development Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 14(1), pages 81-96, June.
    2. Mandal, Biswajit, 2024. "Digital Mobility of Financial Capital Across Different Time Zones, Factor Prices and Sectoral Composition," MPRA Paper 119764, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Noritsugu Nakanishi & Ngo Van Long, 2020. "A new impetus for endogenous growth: R&D offshoring via virtual labor mobility," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 846-883, August.
    4. Prasad, Alaka Shree & Mandal, Biswajit, 2019. "Virtual trade between different time zones, educational capital and corrupt informal sector," MPRA Paper 96963, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Sugata Marjit & Reza Oladi, 2021. "Vertical Specialization, International Task Fragmentation, and Convergence," CESifo Working Paper Series 9406, CESifo.
    6. Alaka Shree Prasad & Biswajit Mandal, 2019. "Time zone difference, skill formation and corrupt informal sector: the role of virtual trade," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 261-290, December.
    7. Mandal, Biswajit & Prasad, Alaka Shree, 2018. "Time Zone Differences, Communication Cost and Service Trade," MPRA Paper 87465, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Biswajit Mandal & Sugata Marjit & Noritsugu Nakanishi, 2018. "Outsourcing, factor prices and skill formation in countries with non-overlapping time zones," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 8(2), pages 289-304, August.
    9. Mandal, Biswajit & Prasad, Alaka Shree & Bhattacharjee, Prasun, 2017. "A Review of Literature on Time Zone Difference and Trade," MPRA Paper 78779, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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