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Trade, wages, and profits

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  • Egger, Hartmut
  • Egger, Peter
  • Kreickemeier, Udo

Abstract

This paper formulates a structural empirical model of heterogeneous firms whose workers exhibit fair-wage preferences, leading to a link between a firm's operating profits and wages of workers employed by this firm. We estimate the parameters of the model in a dataset of five European economies. The model predicts an exporter wage premium, which we find to be sizable in all countries, with nearly 6% on average. The estimates enable us to conduct counterfactual exercises. We find that openness to international trade has quantitatively important effects, leading to higher wage inequality and lower aggregate employment.

Suggested Citation

  • Egger, Hartmut & Egger, Peter & Kreickemeier, Udo, 2013. "Trade, wages, and profits," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 332-350.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:64:y:2013:i:c:p:332-350
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2013.09.008
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Structural models; Heterogeneous firms; Fair wages; Labour market imperfections; Exporter wage premium;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models
    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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