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International Borrowing, Specialization, and Unemployment in a Small Open Economy

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  • Patrick N. Osakwe
  • Shouyong Shi

Abstract

The authors show that an increase in international borrowing increases specialization and unemployment in a small open economy that is subject to terms‐of‐trade risks. The economy has a production advantage in the export sector. However, the size of the export sector is limited by the available funds. To insure workers against income fluctuations arising from terms‐of‐trade risks, firms in the export sector offer workers a stable wage rate with the possibility of unemployment. An increase in international borrowing increases specialization in the export sector, which leads to higher unemployment when the terms‐of‐trade shock is bad. A state‐contingent price subsidy can reduce unemployment without inefficiently reducing specialization. The results are robust to the introduction of risk‐averse firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick N. Osakwe & Shouyong Shi, 2004. "International Borrowing, Specialization, and Unemployment in a Small Open Economy," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(1), pages 41-59, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:reviec:v:12:y:2004:i:1:p:41-59
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9396.2004.00430.x
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    1. Cole, Harold L & Dow, James & English, William B, 1995. "Default, Settlement, and Signalling: Lending Resumption in a Reputational Model of Sovereign Debt," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 36(2), pages 365-385, May.
    2. Diwan, Ishac, 1990. "Linking trade and external debt strategies," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(3-4), pages 293-310, November.
    3. Robert J. Barro, 1998. "Determinants of Economic Growth: A Cross-Country Empirical Study," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262522543, December.
    4. Martin Neil Baily, 1974. "Wages and Employment under Uncertain Demand," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 41(1), pages 37-50.
    5. Azariadis, Costas, 1975. "Implicit Contracts and Underemployment Equilibria," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 83(6), pages 1183-1202, December.
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    7. Chang, P. H. Kevin, 1991. "Export diversification and international debt under terms-of-trade uncertainty : An intertemporal approach," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 259-277, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert Lafrance & Patrick Osakwe & Pierre St-Amant, 1998. "Evaluating Alternative Measures of the Real Effective Exchange Rate," Staff Working Papers 98-20, Bank of Canada.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F3 - International Economics - - International Finance
    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers

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