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The skilled u-shaped Europe: is it really and on which side does it stand?

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  • Helena Marques

Abstract

This study estimates a quadratic sectoral wage equation for the member countries of the enlarged EU where wages are a function of each country's geographical location with respect to market size (new trade/New Economic Geography (NEG) effect), human capital (HOS endowment effect), and productivity (Ricardian effect). Wages react to these variables according to a U-shaped curve. They react negatively to market size and productivity of neighbouring countries, but react positively to skilled labour in neighbouring countries. However, due to non-linearity, further increases in these variables will induce a reversal in the outcome. Wages react more to market size, less to skill endowments, and even less to productivity, making economies of scale an important mechanism in explaining why firms can afford to pay higher wages in larger markets. In addition, EU real wages are significantly determined by country-specific characteristics other than geography that push the real wages of old EU members upward and pull the real wages of new EU members downward.

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  • Helena Marques, 2005. "The skilled u-shaped Europe: is it really and on which side does it stand?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(19), pages 2205-2220.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:37:y:2005:i:19:p:2205-2220
    DOI: 10.1080/00036840500361214
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • L6 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing

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