Trade reforms, labor regulations, and labor-demand elasticities: Empirical evidence from India

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Hasan, Rana; Mitra, Devashish; Ramaswamy, K. V.
• 署名单位: Syracuse University; National Bureau of Economic Research
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/rest.89.3.466
• 发表日期: 2007-08
• 页码: 466-481
• 关键词: market-discipline; panel-data; LIBERALIZATION; PRODUCTIVITY; EMPLOYMENT; GLOBALIZATION; COMPETITION; IMPACT; wages

摘要

Using industry-level data disaggregated by states, this paper finds a positive impact of trade liberalization on (the absolute values of) labor demand elasticities in the Indian manufacturing sector. The magnitudes of these elasticities turn out to be negatively related to protection levels that vary across industries and over time. Furthermore, we find that these elasticities are not only larger in size for Indian states with more flexible labor regulations, they are also impacted there to a larger degree by trade reforms. Finally, we find that the reforms have led to a reduction in the share of labor in total output and value added, possibly due to the reduction in the bargaining power of workers.