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The Reallocation Effects of Domestic Outsourcing

Author

Listed:
  • Mayara Felix

    (Yale University)

  • Michael B. Wong

    (The University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

This paper estimates the wage, employment, and reallocation effects of non-core activity outsourcing using BrazilÕs unexpected 1993 court-ordered outsourcing legalization. We leverage North-South variation in pre-legalization court permissiveness and compare security guards to less affected occupations. We find that older incumbent security guards were adversely impacted through occupational layoffs, loss of firm-level wage premia, and exit from the occupation. At the same time, increased numbers of younger workers entered the formal sector and became employed at contract firms. On net, legalization increased guard employment by 5%, led by a 50% increase in employment for guards aged 18-24, and had no effect on demographically-adjusted guard wages. The observed labor reallocation effects are explained by the fact that contract firms persistently employ demographically different workers than direct employers.

Suggested Citation

  • Mayara Felix & Michael B. Wong, 2024. "The Reallocation Effects of Domestic Outsourcing," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 2416, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University.
    • Handle: RePEc:cwl:cwldpp:2416
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    File URL: https://cowles.yale.edu/sites/default/files/2024-12/d2416.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Arindrajit Dube & Ethan Kaplan, 2010. "Does Outsourcing Reduce Wages in the Low-Wage Service Occupations? Evidence from Janitors and Guards," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 63(2), pages 287-306, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eren Gürer & Erol Taymaz, 2025. "Skill-biased Wage Effects of Domestic Outsourcing," ERC Working Papers 2501, ERC - Economic Research Center, Middle East Technical University, revised Mar 2025.

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