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Enforcement of Labor Regulation and the Labor Market Effects of Trade: Evidence from Brazil

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  • Ulyssea, Gabriel
  • Ponczek, Vladimir

Abstract

How does enforcement of labor regulations shape the labor market effects of trade? Does the informal sector introduce greater de facto flexibility, reducing employment losses during bad times? To tackle these questions, we exploit local economic shocks generated by trade liberalization and variation in enforcement capacity across local labor markets in Brazil. In the aftermath of the trade opening, regions with stricter enforcement observed: (i) lower informality effects; (ii) larger losses in overall employment; and (iii) greater reductions in the number of formal plants. Regions with weaker enforcement observed opposite effects. All these effects are concentrated on low-skill workers. Our results indicate that greater de facto labor market flexibility introduced by informality allows both formal firms and low-skill workers to cope better with adverse labor market shocks.

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  • Ulyssea, Gabriel & Ponczek, Vladimir, 2021. "Enforcement of Labor Regulation and the Labor Market Effects of Trade: Evidence from Brazil," CEPR Discussion Papers 15960, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:15960
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    4. Niklas Engbom & Gustavo Gonzaga & Christian Moser & Roberta Olivieri, 2022. "Earnings inequality and dynamics in the presence of informality: The case of Brazil," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 13(4), pages 1405-1446, November.
    5. Samaniego de la Parra Brenda & Fernández Bujanda León, 2020. "Increasing the Cost of Informal Workers: Evidence from Mexico," Working Papers 2020-19, Banco de México.
    6. Wang, Feicheng & Liang, Zhe & Lehmann, Hartmut, 2021. "Import competition and informal employment: Empirical evidence from China," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 426, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    7. Camilo Bohorquez-Penuela & Andrea Otero-Cortes, 2020. "Blame it on the Rain: The Effects of Weather Shocks on Formal Rural Employment in Colombia," Documentos de Trabajo Sobre Economía Regional y Urbana 18404, Banco de la República, Economía Regional.
    8. Patrick Wagner & Damian Raess, 2023. "South to north investment linkages and decent work in Brazil," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 37(1), pages 122-159, March.
    9. François Langot & Rossana Merola & Samil Oh, 2022. "Can taxes help ensure a fair globalization?," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 171, pages 191-213.
    10. Amodio, Francesco & Medina, Pamela & Morlacco, Monica, 2022. "Labor Market Power, Self-Employment, and Development," IZA Discussion Papers 15477, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Joana Costa & Felipe Russo & Guilherme Hirata & Ana Luiza Neves Holanda Barbosa, 2023. "Effects of Labor Market Regulation for Underprivileged Workers: Evidence from Brazil," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 261-293, December.
    12. Berniell, Inés & Berniell, Lucila & Mata, Dolores de la & Edo, María & Marchionni, Mariana, 2021. "Gender gaps in labor informality: The motherhood effect," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    13. Ana Margarida Fernandes & Joana Silva, 2023. "Adjusting to Transitory Shocks: Worker Impact, Firm Channels, and (Lack of) Income Support," CESifo Working Paper Series 10479, CESifo.
    14. Rodrigo Ceni & Gonzalo Salas, 2021. "Transfer program enforcement and children’s time allocation," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1099-1137, December.
    15. Paulo Bastos & Joana Silva & Eric Verhoogen, 2018. "Export Destinations and Input Prices," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(2), pages 353-392, February.
    16. Alvarez, Jorge A. & Ruane, Cian, 2024. "Informality and aggregate productivity: The case of Mexico," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    17. Garcia-Louzao, Jose & Hospido, Laura & Ruggieri, Alessandro, 2023. "Dual returns to experience," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    18. Raess, Damian & Wagner, Patrick, 2022. "South to north investment linkages and decent work in Brazil," Papers 1382, World Trade Institute.
    19. Pavel Chakraborty & Rahul Singh & Vidhya Soundararajan, 2021. "Import Competition, Formalization, and the Role of Contract Labor," Working Papers 332157179, Lancaster University Management School, Economics Department.
    20. Filipe Correia & Gustavo S. Cortes & Thiago C. Silva, 2021. "Is Corporate Credit Risk Propagated to Employees?," Working Papers Series 551, Central Bank of Brazil, Research Department.
    21. Charris, Carlos & Branco, Danyelle & Carrillo, Bladimir, 2024. "Economic shocks and infant health: Evidence from a trade reform in Brazil," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    22. Mr. Jorge A Alvarez & Cian Ruane, 2019. "Informality and Aggregate Productivity: The Case of Mexico," IMF Working Papers 2019/257, International Monetary Fund.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Trade; Informality; Labor market flexibility;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • J46 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Informal Labor Market
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions

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