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Trade liberalization and labor monopsony: Evidence from Chinese firms

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  • Kondo, Illenin O.
  • Li, Yao Amber
  • Qian, Wei

Abstract

We document that larger input tariff reductions were associated with lower labor markdowns in China, especially for skill-intensive firms. Guided by a stylized model of equilibrium labor market power, we leverage differences in the aggregate labor supply dynamics across labor markets – such as regional variations in China’s contemporaneous college expansion reforms – to that show trade-induced labor markdown decreased more in labor markets with more labor supply growth. Our estimates suggest that lower labor markdowns due to input trade liberalization offset China’s aggregate labor share decline by almost one-half percentage point in the early 2000s.

Suggested Citation

  • Kondo, Illenin O. & Li, Yao Amber & Qian, Wei, 2024. "Trade liberalization and labor monopsony: Evidence from Chinese firms," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:inecon:v:152:y:2024:i:c:s0022199624001338
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2024.104006
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Input trade liberalization; Labor market power; Skill intensity; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E2 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment
    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor
    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs
    • J42 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Monopsony; Segmented Labor Markets

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