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Technology, computers and wages: evidence from a developing economy

Author

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  • Chris N. Sakellariou
  • Harry A. Patrinos

Abstract

Increasing returns to schooling are documented for developed and some developing countries. The growing demand for skills is associated with recent technological developments, including the introduction of computers in the workplace. Research in developed countries documents a premium for computer use. However, there is recent evidence suggesting that computer skills by themselves do not command a wage premium. This paper reviews the literature and uses data from a survey of university graduates in Vietnam. The results support the unobserved heterogeneity explanation for computer wage premiums. The results suggest that computers may make the productive workers even more productive.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris N. Sakellariou & Harry A. Patrinos, 2004. "Technology, computers and wages: evidence from a developing economy," Brussels Economic Review, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles, vol. 47(3-4), pages 543-543.
  • Handle: RePEc:bxr:bxrceb:y:2004:v:47:i:3-4:p:543-560
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Joaquin Marandino & Phanindra V. Wunnava, 2017. "The Effect of Access to Information and Communication Technology on Household Labor Income: Evidence from One Laptop Per Child in Uruguay," Economies, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-10, September.
    2. Poole, Jennifer & Santos-Paulino, Amelia & Sokolova, Maria & DiCaprio, Alisa, 2017. "The Impact of Trade and Technology on Skills in Viet Nam," ADBI Working Papers 770, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    3. Anh Pham & Jennifer P. Poole & Amelia U. Santos-Paulino, . "Foreign investment and female employment in Viet Nam," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    4. Vinod Mishra & Russell Smyth, 2014. "Technological Change and Wages in China: Evidence from Matched Employer–Employee Data," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(1), pages 123-138, February.
    5. Oosterbeek, Hessel & Ponce, Juan, 2011. "The impact of computer use on earnings in a developing country: Evidence from Ecuador," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 434-440, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Wages; earnings; computers;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • 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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