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Economic Policy Changes and Wage Differentials in Latin America

Author

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  • Jere R. Behrman
  • Nancy Birdsall
  • Miguel Székely

Abstract

This article presents estimates of the impact of changes in liberalization policies on wage differentials by schooling level using a new high-quality data set for 18 Latin American countries for 1977-98. The method controls for all fixed and time-varying country characteristics, some of which may affect the policies themselves. The results indicate that liberalizing policy changes overall have had a short-run disequalizing effect of expanding wage differentials, although this effect tends to fade away over time. This disequalizing effect is due to the strong impact of domestic financial market reform, capital account liberalization, and tax reform. However, privatization contributed to narrowing wage differentials, and increasing trade openness had no significant effect on wage differentials. Technological progress, rather than trade flows, appears to be a channel through which policy changes are affecting inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Jere R. Behrman & Nancy Birdsall & Miguel Székely, 2007. "Economic Policy Changes and Wage Differentials in Latin America," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 56(1), pages 57-97, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:ecdecc:v:56:y:2007:p:57-97
    DOI: 10.1086/520556
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