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Trade and wage inequality: A specific factor model with intermediate goods

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  • Barua, Alokesh
  • Pant, Manoj

Abstract

In this paper we try to address the current debate on the link between trade liberalization and wage inequality in developing countries within a general equilibrium framework. For this we set up two distinct models of trade. First, assuming a specific factor model with full employment we show that for a small developing economy wage inequality is related to labour productivity rather than freer trade per se. The model also suggests that while trade may increase wage inequality, this does not imply that poverty increases as wages of unskilled workers increase. However, in the second model with surplus labour specific to the non-traded agricultural good which is also an intermediate good, we show that the two wage rates move in opposite direction; but either of the two wage rates could increase depending on whether the export good is skilled or unskilled labour intensive. Interestingly, in the event of rising wage inequality, the model predicts that absolute poverty may rise.

Suggested Citation

  • Barua, Alokesh & Pant, Manoj, 2014. "Trade and wage inequality: A specific factor model with intermediate goods," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 172-185.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:33:y:2014:i:c:p:172-185
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2014.04.004
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    Cited by:

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    3. Jiancai Pi & Xiangyu Huang, 2021. "Product Variety and Wage Inequality," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 22(1), pages 135-151, May.
    4. Jiancai Pi & Kaiqi Zhang & Xiangyu Huang, 2023. "Financial globalization and wage inequality," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 70(2), pages 144-157, May.
    5. Xu, Yun & Ouyang, Alice Y., 2017. "Tariffs, relative prices and wage inequality: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 97-109.
    6. Pi, Jiancai & Zhang, Pengqing, 2018. "Skill-biased technological change and wage inequality in developing countries," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 347-362.
    7. Anwar, Sajid & Sun, Sizhong, 2015. "Taxation of labour income and the skilled–unskilled wage inequality," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 18-22.
    8. Zhenshan Yang & Xunhaoyue Zeng, 2019. "Envisioning the Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on Regional Labor Markets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-17, April.
    9. Sugata Marjit & Manoj Pant & Sugandha Huria, 2020. "Unskilled immigration, technical progress, and wages—Role of the household sector," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 235-251, February.
    10. Senjuti Gupta & Bidisha Chakraborty & Tanmoyee Banerjee (Chatterjee), 2019. "Service Good as an Intermediate Input and Optimal Government Policy in an Endogenous Growth Model," South Asian Journal of Macroeconomics and Public Finance, , vol. 8(1), pages 57-91, June.
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    12. Sugandha Huria & Manoj Pant, 2018. "Foreign direct investment, welfare and wage inequality in a small open economy: theory and empirics," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 131-166, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Trade and wage inequality;

    JEL classification:

    • F11 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Neoclassical Models of Trade
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations

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