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The effects of import competition on health in the local economy

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  • Matthew Lang
  • T. Clay McManus
  • Georg Schaur

Abstract

We provide evidence that average mental, physical, and general health worsens for employed workers in local U.S. labor markets exposed to greater import competition from China. The effects are greatest for mental health. Moving a region from the 25th to 75th percentiles of import exposure corresponds to a 7.8% increase in the morbidity of poor mental health, adding about 3 days of poor mental health per year for the average adult. Concurrently, the ability to afford health care decreases. Our results complement documented consequences of import competition on labor markets and temporary business cycle shocks on health outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Lang & T. Clay McManus & Georg Schaur, 2019. "The effects of import competition on health in the local economy," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(1), pages 44-56, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:28:y:2019:i:1:p:44-56
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.3826
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    3. Giuntella, Osea & Rieger, Matthias & Rotunno, Lorenzo, 2020. "Weight gains from trade in foods: Evidence from Mexico," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    4. Jérôme Adda & Yarine Fawaz, 2020. "The Health Toll of Import Competition," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 130(630), pages 1501-1540.
    5. Lizhong Peng & Jie Chen & Xiaohui Guo, 2022. "Macroeconomic conditions and health‐related outcomes in the United States: A metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area‐level analysis between 2004 and 2017," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 3-20, January.
    6. José‐Ignacio Antón & Enrique Fernández‐Macías & Rudolf Winter‐Ebmer, 2023. "Does robotization affect job quality? Evidence from European regional labor markets," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(3), pages 233-256, July.
    7. Justin R. Pierce & Peter K. Schott, 2020. "Trade Liberalization and Mortality: Evidence from US Counties," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 2(1), pages 47-64, March.
    8. César, Andrés & Falcone, Guillermo & Gasparini, Leonardo, 2021. "Costs and benefits of trade shocks: Evidence from Chilean local labor markets," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    9. Yiping Sun & Chengjun Wu & Xiaoming Zhu & Pingguan Bian, 2022. "China’s Accession to the WTO as a Shock to Residents’ Health—A Difference-in-Difference Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-18, November.
    10. Matthieu Crozet & Laura Hering & Sandra Poncet, 2018. "Looking for the Bright Side of the China Syndrome: Rising Export Opportunities and Life Satisfaction in China," Working Papers 2018-14, CEPII research center.
    11. Muftah Faraj & Murad Bein, 2022. "Sustainability of Local Labour Market in South Africa: The Implications of Imports Competition from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, June.
    12. Michiel Gerritse & Andrea Caragliu, 2022. "Import competition and domestic transport costs," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 22-071/VIII, Tinbergen Institute.
    13. Lina Baranauskaitė & Daiva Jurevičienė, 2021. "Import Risks of Agricultural Products in Foreign Trade," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-15, July.
    14. HAYAKAWA Kazunobu & ITO Tadashi & URATA Shujiro, 2022. "Impacts of Increased Chinese Imports on Japan’s Labor Market: Firm and Regional Aspects," Discussion papers 22037, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    15. Antonia Lopez Villavicencio & Maria Cervini, 2019. "The mental health consequences of globalisation," EconomiX Working Papers 2019-26, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    16. Patralekha Ukil, 2019. "Parental Economic Shocks and Infant Health: The Effect of Import Competition in the U.S," Working papers 2019-18, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
    17. Colantone, Italo & Crinò, Rosario & Ogliari, Laura, 2019. "Globalization and mental distress," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 181-207.
    18. Lai, Tat-kei & Lu, Yi & Ng, Travis, 2022. "Import Competition and Workplace Safety in the U.S. Manufacturing Sector," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 24-42.
    19. HAYAKAWA Kazunobu & URATA Shujiro & YAMANOUCHI Kenta, 2022. "Import Competition from China and Markup Dispersion," Discussion papers 22031, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    20. Tommaso Tempesti, 2020. "Fringe Benefits and Chinese Import Competition," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 86(4), pages 1307-1337, April.
    21. Yu-Chun Lin & Yu-Hung Chang & Huang-Ting Yan, 2020. "Is trade a blessing or a curse? A panel data analysis of the determinants of depressive disorders," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(7), pages 1113-1121, September.
    22. Diaz Gutierrez, Julian, 2023. "Trade Effects on Substance Abuse: Evidence from Colombia's Liberalization," 2023 Annual Meeting, July 23-25, Washington D.C. 335460, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    23. 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.
    24. Zhuhua Jiang & Chizheng Miao & Jose Arreola Hernandez & Seong-Min Yoon, 2022. "Effect of Increasing Import Competition from China on the Local Labor Market: Evidence from Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, February.

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