Adjusting to trade policy reform

Virtually all of the studies that quantify the adjustment costs of trade liberalization relative to the benefits point to the conclusion that adjustment costs are small in relation to the benefits of trade liberalization. The explanation for low adjustment costs is that: These costs are typically short-term and end when workers find a job, but the benefits grow as the economy does. Unemployment doesn't last long, especially where workers'pay was not substantial in the original job. Normal labor turnover often exceeds job displacement from trade liberalization. Moreover, studies that examine the impact of trade liberalization on employment in developing countries find there is little decline--and usually an increase--in manufacturing employment in developing countries a year after trade liberalization, for three reasons: 1) Developing countries tend to have comparative advantage in labor-intensive industries, and trade liberalization tends to favor labor. 2) Inter-industry shifts occur after trade liberalization, which minimizes the dislocation of factors of production. 3) In many industries, normal labor turnover exceeds dislocation from trade liberalization, so downsizing, when necessary can be accomplished without much forced unemployment. The authors recommend a uniform tariff to minimize special-interest lobbying for protection since it diffuses the benefits of protection.Decentralization,Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Labor Policies,Public Health Promotion,Environmental Economics&Policies,TF054105-DONOR FUNDED OPERATION ADMINISTRATION FEE INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Trade Policy,Economic Theory&Research

International Trade and Labor Markets: Theory, Evidence, and Policy Implications

Davidson and Matusz develop simple yet compelling models that allow for documented differences in labor markets across countries in order to investigate the impact of trade and trade policies on society\u27s underclass.https://research.upjohn.org/up_press/1042/thumbnail.jp

International Trade Policy in a Model of Unemployment and Wage Differentials.

The author examines the effects of import tariffs and export subsidies in a two-sector model with sector-specific wage differentials and an equilibrium level of unemployment. In general, such policies change both the composition and level of employment. Policies designed to attract workers to the high-wage sector could also result in reduced employment and lower social welfare. This could happen if the low-wage sector is also the relatively labor-intensive sector. In such situations, the optimal policy might entail protecting the low-wage, labor-intensive sector. I examine the effects of import tariffs and export subsidies in a two-sector model with sector-specific wage differentials and an equilibrium level of unemployment. In general, such policies change both the composition and level of employment. Policies designed to attract workers to the high-wage sector could also result in reduced employment and lower social welfare. This could happen if the low-wage sector is also the relatively labour-intensive sector. In such situations the optimal policy might entail protecting the low-wage labour-intensive sector.