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Intermediate Goods-Skill Complementarity

Author

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  • Kozo Kiyota

    (Keio Economic Observatory, Keio University)

  • Yoshinori Kurokawa

    (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba)

Abstract

With the growing importance of intermediate goods, recent studies begin to suggest intermediate goods-skill complementarity and its potential effect on inequality. However, this possible complementarity has not yet been formally tested. This paper conducts a formal test on whether intermediate goods are complements for skilled labor. Using the panel data of 40 countries over the period 1995-2009, we estimate a two-level CES production function. Our results indicate that, at the aggregated one-sector level, the elasticity of substitution between intermediate goods and unskilled labor is significantly greater than that between intermediate goods and skilled labor. This confirms intermediate goods-skill complementarity. At the more disaggregated level, such complementarity is observed mainly in the heavy manufacturing industries and the service sector, whereas substitutability is confirmed in the primary sector and in light manufacturing industries. Moreover, intermediate goods-skill complementarity tends to be higher for industries whose shares of imported intermediate goods are higher.

Suggested Citation

  • Kozo Kiyota & Yoshinori Kurokawa, 2019. "Intermediate Goods-Skill Complementarity," Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series 2019-013, Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University.
    • Handle: RePEc:keo:dpaper:2019-013
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Atolia, Manoj & Kurokawa, Yoshinori, 2016. "The impact of trade margins on the skill premium: Evidence from Mexico," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 38(5), pages 895-915.
    2. Costas Arkolakis & Arnaud Costinot & Andres Rodriguez-Clare, 2012. "New Trade Models, Same Old Gains?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 102(1), pages 94-130, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Takeuchi, Fumihide, 2023. "Intermediate goods-skill complementarity and income distribution," MPRA Paper 116372, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E23 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Production
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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