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Winners and Losers from a Commodities-for-Manufactures Trade Boom

Author

Listed:
  • Francisco Costa
  • Jason Garred
  • Joao Paulo Pessoa

Abstract

A recent boom in commodities-for-manufactures trade between China and other developing countries has led to much concern about the losers from rising import competition in manufacturing, but little attention on the winners from growing Chinese demand for commodities. Using census data for Brazil, we find that local labour markets more affected by Chinese import competition experienced slower growth in manufacturing wages and in-migration rates between 2000 and 2010, and greater rises in local wage inequality. However, in locations benefiting from rising Chinese demand, we observe higher wage growth, lower takeup of cash transfers and positive effects on job quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Francisco Costa & Jason Garred & Joao Paulo Pessoa, 2014. "Winners and Losers from a Commodities-for-Manufactures Trade Boom," CEP Discussion Papers dp1269, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
  • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp1269
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    China; trade; commodities-for manufactures; wages; employment; informality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • Q17 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agriculture in International Trade

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