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Workers' Views of the Impact of Trade on Jobs

Author

Listed:
  • Brown, Clair

    (University of California, Berkeley)

  • Lane, Julia

    (New York University)

  • Sturgeon, Timothy

    (MIT)

Abstract

Although public policy is influenced by the perception that workers worry about the impact of trade on their jobs, there is little empirical evidence on what shapes such views. This paper uses new data to examine how workers’ perceptions of the impact of trade are related to their career paths, job characteristics, and local labor market conditions. Surprisingly, given prior literature, we find that workers’ perceptions primarily reflect local labor market conditions and education rather than labor market experiences or job characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Brown, Clair & Lane, Julia & Sturgeon, Timothy, 2010. "Workers' Views of the Impact of Trade on Jobs," IZA Discussion Papers 5368, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp5368
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    job loss; local labor markets; job characteristics; trade; globalization; job security;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies

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    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

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