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Financial Globalization and the Labor Share in Developing Countries: The Type of Capital Matters

Author

Listed:
  • Katharina van Treeck

    (Georg-August University Göttingen)

  • K.M. Wacker

    (University of Mainz)

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate how de facto financial globalization has influenced the labor share in developing countries. Our main argument is the need to distinguish between different types of capital in this context, as different forms of foreign investment have different fixed costs and impacts on the host countries' production process and vary concerning their bargaining power vis-à-vis labor. Assuming an aggregate elasticity of substitution between capital and labor would thus be misleading. Our econometric analysis of the impact of foreign direct vs. portfolio investment in a sample of about 40 developing and transition countries after 1992 supports this claim. Using different panel data techniques to address potential endogeneity problems, we find that FDI has a positive effect on the labor share in developing countries, while the impact of portfolio investment is significantly smaller, and potentially negative. Our results also highlight that de facto foreign investment cannot explain the decline of the labor share in developing countries over the investigated period.

Suggested Citation

  • Katharina van Treeck & K.M. Wacker, 2017. "Financial Globalization and the Labor Share in Developing Countries: The Type of Capital Matters," Courant Research Centre: Poverty, Equity and Growth - Discussion Papers 219, Courant Research Centre PEG.
    • Handle: RePEc:got:gotcrc:219
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    Cited by:

    1. Beri, Parfait & Molem, Christopher Sama, 2024. "The impact of economic globalisation on labour market outcomes in Africa," MPRA Paper 122554, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Magaji Yakubu & Samson Aladejare, 2025. "Renewable Energy and Ecological Sustainability in Africa: Does Foreign Debt and Financial Globalisation Matter?," Energy Technologies and Environment, Anser Press, vol. 3(1), pages 1-22, March.
    3. Bouazizi, Youssef & Oulmakki, Ouail & Savard, Luc & Verny, Jérôme, 2025. "The decline of the wage share in value-added: What have we learned from North African firms?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 150-162.
    4. Chih‐Hai Yang & Meng‐Wen Tsou, 2021. "Globalization and the labor share in China: Firm‐level evidence," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 89(1), pages 1-23, January.
    5. Bello, Jaliyyah & Guo, Jiaqi & Newaz, Mohammad Khaleq, 2022. "Financial contagion effects of major crises in African stock markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    6. Ibarra, Carlos A. & Ros, Jaime, 2023. "Trade and factor intensity, and the transmission of the global shock to labor: A panel analysis of the fall of the labor income share in the Mexican manufacturing sector," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(1).
    7. Bruno S. Sergi & Svetlana Balashova & Svetlana Ratner, 2023. "The Labour Share, Government Expenditure and Income Inequality of Post-Soviet Countries," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-22, November.
    8. Erumban, Abdul A., 2024. "Informality and aggregate labor productivity growth: Does ICT moderate the relationship?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(1).
    9. Fangfang Hou & Elisabetta Magnani & Xinpeng Xu, 2022. "International capital markets and domestic employment: Evidence from worldwide publicly listed large firms," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(1), pages 220-250, January.
    10. David Kim & Woo‐Yung Kim, 2020. "What drives the labor share of income in South Korea? A regional analysis," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(3), pages 1304-1335, September.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • E25 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Aggregate Factor Income Distribution
    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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