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Managerial capital, occupational choice and inequality in a global economy

Author

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  • Elias Dinopoulos
  • Bulent Unel

Abstract

This study proposes a simple theory of trade with endogenous firm productivity, occupational choice and income inequality. Individuals with different managerial talent choose to become entrepreneurs or workers. Entrepreneurs enhance firm productivity by investing in managerial capital. The model generates three income classes: low-income workers facing the prospect of unemployment, middle-income entrepreneurs managing domestic firms and high-income entrepreneurs managing global firms. Trade liberalization policies raise unemployment and improve welfare. A reduction in per-unit trade costs raises top incomes and generates labour-market polarization. A reduction in fixed exporting costs has an ambiguous effect on top incomes and personal income distribution. Policies reducing labour-market frictions or the costs of managerial-capital acquisition create more jobs and improve welfare. The income distributional effects of labour-market policies depend on which policy is implemented.

Suggested Citation

  • Elias Dinopoulos & Bulent Unel, 2017. "Managerial capital, occupational choice and inequality in a global economy," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 50(2), pages 365-397, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:cje:issued:v:50:y:2017:i:2:p:365-397
    DOI: 10.1111/caje.12262
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    Cited by:

    1. Mingzhi Xu, 2020. "Globalization, the skill premium, and income distribution: the role of selection into entrepreneurship," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 156(3), pages 633-668, August.
    2. Dinopoulos, Elias & Heins, Gunnar & Tsoulouhas, Theofanis, 2024. "Effort, talent, and inequality in a small open economy," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 248-265.
    3. Unel, Bulent, 2018. "Offshoring and unemployment in a credit-constrained economy," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 21-33.
    4. Subhayu Bandyopadhyay & Elias Dinopoulos & Bulent Unel, 2018. "Effects of Credit Supply on Unemployment and Income Inequality," Review, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, vol. 100(4), pages 345-362.
    5. Bulent Unel, 2019. "A model of occupational choice, offshoring and immigration," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1), pages 267-289, February.
    6. Hung, Li-Wen & Peng, Shin-Kun, 2021. "Rural-urban migration with remittances and welfare analysis," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    7. Dinopoulos, Elias & Heins, Gunnar & Unel, Bulent, 2024. "Tariff wars, unemployment, and top incomes," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    8. Jiayu Ou & Zhiqiang Zheng & Naili Zhang, 2023. "A Study of the Effect of Trade Openness on Population Health: Empirical Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-19, August.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade

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