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Victims of Progress: Economic Integration, Specialization and Wages for Unskilled Labour

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  • Francois, Joseph
  • Nelson, Doug R

Abstract

In this paper we demonstrate that intra-industry trade (or FDI) between identical countries could produce the observed deterioration in the relative wages of unskilled workers. This involves a model of North-North integration through either increased trade flows or increased MNE-based production. Our motivation in this regard is a series of arguments to the effect that trade cannot be responsible for the observed labour market trends because trade with developing countries is quantitatively too small to have significant labour market effects. We also introduce a relatively unexploited class of model that possesses attractive properties with respect to the explicit incorporation of firm-theoretic considerations in trade models.

Suggested Citation

  • Francois, Joseph & Nelson, Doug R, 2000. "Victims of Progress: Economic Integration, Specialization and Wages for Unskilled Labour," CEPR Discussion Papers 2527, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:2527
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    Cited by:

    1. Dluhosch, Barbara, 2006. "Intraindustry trade and the gains from fragmentation," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 49-64, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Trade and wages; Trade and employment; Fdi and wages; Globalization and employment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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