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The Impact of Growth in Manufactured Imports from China on Employment in Australia

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  • Aaron Blanco
  • Jeff Borland
  • Michael Coelli
  • James Maccarrone

Abstract

We examine how rapid growth in imports of manufactured goods from China affected employment in Australia from 1991 to 2006. Alternative sources of variation in Chinese import exposure (at industry level and between local labour markets) are used to identify the effect on employment. Growth in imports from China is estimated to have reduced manufacturing employment by around 53,200 to 78,900 workers, representing 5.3 to 7.5 per cent of that workforce in 1991. Largest impacts are found for manufacturing industries most exposed to import competition from China; and from 2001 to 2006 when import growth was strongest.

Suggested Citation

  • Aaron Blanco & Jeff Borland & Michael Coelli & James Maccarrone, 2021. "The Impact of Growth in Manufactured Imports from China on Employment in Australia," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 97(317), pages 243-266, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecorec:v:97:y:2021:i:317:p:243-266
    DOI: 10.1111/1475-4932.12604
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Coelli & James Maccarrone & Jeff Borland, 2023. "The dragon Down Under: the regional labour market impact of growth in Chinese imports to Australia," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(11), pages 2148-2163, November.
    2. Ying Ying Ida Xiao, 2024. "Labour market outcomes of the China shock in Australia," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 63(S1), pages 135-144, May.
    3. Muftah Faraj & Murad Bein, 2022. "Sustainability of Local Labour Market in South Africa: The Implications of Imports Competition from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, June.
    4. Zhuhua Jiang & Chizheng Miao & Jose Arreola Hernandez & Seong-Min Yoon, 2022. "Effect of Increasing Import Competition from China on the Local Labor Market: Evidence from Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, February.

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