Sharing the costs: The impact of trade reform on capital and labor in Morocco

• 成果类型: Article; Proceedings Paper
• 署名作者: Currie, J; Harrison, A
• 署名单位: National Bureau of Economic Research
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF LABOR ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0734-306X
• DOI: 10.1086/209876
• 发表日期: 1997
• 页码: S44-S71
• 关键词: employment; COMPETITION

摘要

We examine the impact of recent trade reforms. Although employment in the average private sector manufacturing firm was unaffected, there were significant employment losses to exporters and highly affected firms. Parastatals increased employment by hiring low-paid temporary workers. Many firms did not adjust wages or employment. We examine two possible explanations. First, barriers to labor market mobility could have impeded adjustment. Second, we develop a model of labor demand which allows for imperfect competition and endogenous technological change. Our results suggest that although labor markets were flexible, many firms cut profit margins and raised productivity rather than reducing employment.