Trade liberalization and demand labor elasticities : evidence from Tunisia

Ce papier étudie les effets de la libéralisation des échanges sur les élasticités de la demande du travail. Une équation de demande d'emploi est estimée en se fondant sur des données (1971-1996) portant sur six industries manufacturières tunisiennes. Les résultats des tests économétriques ne vérifient pas l'idée que la libéralisation des échanges peut permettre une augmentation de l'élasticité de la demande du travail. Dans la majorité des industries considérées, l'hypothèse de l'absence d'une relation entre l'ouverture commerciale et l'élasticité demande de travail ne peut pas être rejetée. La faiblesse de l'élasticité de demande de travail peut être expliquée par les régulations du marché du travail mises en place durant 1987-1996. Cependant, les résultats sont robustes par rapport au type de statut du travail considéré (main-d'oeuvre contractuelle et permanente). Ces résultats confortent l'idée qu'au cours de la période de libéralisation, le marché du travail est devenu plus flexible, et que les chefs d'entreprise préfèrent embaucher des travailleurs contractuels. This paper investigates the effects of trade liberalization on labor demand elasticities. Employment demand equation is estimated by using data (1971-1996) for manufacturing industries in Tunisia. Results from empirical testing using the model find a weak support for the idea assuming that trade liberalization will lead to an increase in labor demand elasticities: in the vast majority of the industries we consider, we cannot reject the hypothesis of no relationship between trade openness and labor-demand elasticities. This weakness of labor demand elasticity in practice is perhaps explained by the tight labor market regulations in place during the 1987-96. However, our results are robust to the type of labor considered (contract labor and permanent labor). This supports the conclusion that under liberalization period labor markets have become more flexible, and that employers prefer recruiting contracts worker. (Full text in english)

Economies of Scale in the Tunisian Industries

To date, empirical investigations of trade liberalization under the conditions of increasing returns to scale (IRS) and imperfect competition (IC) have either assumed or imposed the market and productive structures necessary for such a model. However, of the recent IRS/IC models used to simulate the effects of trade liberalization none have empirically tested for the presence of increasing return to scale prior to the analysis. With Tunisian data (1971-2004) and rigorous test procedures, we investigate evidence of IRS at the industry level. Using an econometric approach based on the estimation of the translog cost function and its associated cost share equations, we identify the sectors characterized by increasing returns to scale. Analysis of the results shows that specification of the model is sensitive to inclusion of time trend representing technology. The model accounting for technology did not fit the data well for most sectors. The estimation results without time trend interactions are different. Here most of the sectors show signs of increasing returns to scale.economies of scale, trade liberalization, new trade theory, Tunisian industries, cost functions

Consequences of trade liberalization on the labor market in developing economy : The case of Tunisia

This paper investigates short and long run effects of trade liberalization on employment and wages using a specific factor trade model. Employment and wage equations areestimated using data (1971-1996) for importable and exportable sectors in Tunisia. Results fromempirical testing using the model find some supports for the theoretical predictions of Edwards(1988) for the exportable sector. On the other hand, in the importable sectors, we find resultsthat are opposed to those predicted by Edwards (1988) since employment and wages increase. Apossible reason for the divergence of theory and practice is that the Edward's model is premisedon the basis of a fixed supply of labour. Exportable employment could therefore only rise ifimportable employment fell. However, as we have seen, the supply of labour increaseddramatically in Tunisia as women entered the labour market. This allowed employment inimportable to be maintained (even slightly increase) as the exportable sector expanded.

The Impacts of Trade Liberalization on Employment and Wages in Tunisian Industries

trade, labour market, exports, imports, manufacturing, panel data, Tunisia

Labour-Use Efficiency in Tunisian Manufacturing Industries: A Flexible Adjustment Model

dynamics, employment, labour-use efficiency, panel data, Tunisia, speed of adjustment, technical change

Labour-Use Efficiency in the Tunisian's Manufacturing Industries: A Flexible Adjustment Model

This paper investigates the process of adjustment in employment. A dynamic model is applied to a panel of six Tunisian manufacturing industries observed over the period 1971-1996. The adjustment process is industry and time specific. The adjustment parameter is specified in terms of factors affecting the speed of adjustment. Industries are assumed to adjust their labour inputs towards a desired level of labour-use. A translog labour requirement function is specified in terms of observable variables and is used to model the desired level of labour-use.The labour requirement is specified to be function of wages, output, quasi-fixed capital stock and technology. The empirical results show that in the long-run, employment demand responds greatest to value added, followed by capital stock changes, and least by wages. The speed of adjustment in employment and the degree of labour-use efficiency show large variations among thesectors and over time.

Leishmaniasis in Tunisia: History and New Insights into the Epidemiology of a Neglected Disease

In Tunisia, both cutaneous (CL) and visceral leishmaniases (VL) are historical diseases that have been described since the nineteenth century. Cutaneous form is more prevalent than the visceral one. It is caused by three taxa (Leishmania major, Leishmania infantum, and Leishmania killicki synonymous Leishmania tropica) and six zymodemes (MON-1, MON-8, MON-24, MON-25, MON-80, and MON-317). Among these dermotropic zymodemes, sand flies vectors and reservoir hosts were identified for only three ones. Transmission cycles of L. infantum MON-24 and MON-80 and L. killicki MON-317 are still unknown. Zoonotic CL is largely distributed and covers mainly the sub-arid and arid bioclimatic stages. Nevertheless, it has recently spread to the humid and sub-humid stages in northern Tunisia. Sporadic and chronic CL are less prevalent with limited geographical distribution. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is mainly infantile that affects children of <13 years. It is caused by the single taxon L. infantum. Transmission cycle of this parasite is zoonotic but not well elucidated. Three zymodemes are responsible for the genesis of VL (MON-1, MON-24 and MON-80). Only the transmission cycle of L. infantum MON-1 is identified. Geographically, VL is mainly distributed in the humid, sub-humid, and semi-arid bioclimatic stages of the country. Despite the large progress of knowledge in the ecoepidemiology of leishmaniases in Tunisia, many parameters of the transmission cycles of these taxa are still unknown and need further investigations to identify them

Cholinesterase activity and histopatological changes in the Mediterranean crab, Carcinus maenas, exposed to environmental contaminants

Marine environments are continuously being threatened by a large number of pollutants including heavy metals and organophosphorous pesticides from anthropogenic sources. These compounds can cause a serious environmental problem. The present study aimed: (1) to measure sensitivity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity to in vivo exposure to the organophosphorous chlorpyriphos-ethyl (CPF) and to the heavy metals cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) and (2) to use the histopathological lesions as tissue biomarkers for biomonitoring of different contaminations. The results clearly showed that the AChE activity in different tissues (digestive gland, muscle and eyes) of Carcinus maenas was relatively sensitive to the concentrations of CPF and tended to have different patterns in response to Cd, Cu and Cu+Cd mixture exposure. The transfer of treated crabs to the clean sea water allowed to recover totally or partially the lost activity depending on selected tissues and contaminant exposure (metals or organophosphorous compounds). Histopathological biomarkers in C. maenas exposed to different contaminants showed the presence of different lesions which altered the digestive gland after 7 days of contamination

Examining the nexus between oil price, COVID-19, uncertainty index, and stock price of electronic sports: fresh insights from the nonlinear approach

Due to the arrival of a novel coronavirus, the year 2020 will forever be remembered. It is not hyperbole to state that COVID-19 has affected and infected almost everyone in society and the global community in different ways. However, many parts of the world seem to be improving. Individuals, organisations, and governments are trying to work through some effective strategies. The present study investigates the influence of fluctuation in the oil prices, COVID-19, and daily news-based index on Electronic Arts Inc’s stock prices by applying a novel approach entitled Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag (QARDL) during 2019–2020. This approach is quite meaningful as it incorporates various quantiles with a comprehensive explanation of overall dependence among stated variables ignored by the traditional models like quantile regression, OLS, ARDL, etc. The study outcomes through QARDL reveal that the error correction coefficient is significant in various quantiles while confirming the long-run linkage among oil price, COVID-19, and EPU. More specifically, the study outcomes confirm a positive linkage (in all the quantiles) between COVID-19 and stock prices of Electronic Arts Inc, whereas a negative connection (for 0.20th to 0.95th quantiles) between oil prices and SPI. Furthermore, the Granger causality findings indicate the bidirectional causality between SPI and OIL and between SPI and EPU. Various policy implications are also provided under the present stud