Abstract
Abstract. The paper tries to find out the impact of trade liberalization on income inequality. The literature suggests that trade favors one segment of the society over other and cause uneven development. For example, one possible way through which inequality is suspected to seep into the economy through processes of liberalization is by increasing the relative wages of skilled labor as compared to the unskilled ones. Empirical evidence is provided to this effect by employing Theil Wage inequality Index and up to 28 different concepts of openness/ trade policy. OLS as well as 2SLS regressions with numerous specifications were run. It is found out that openness not only causes wage inequality but the relationship is significant for the developing countries. Additionally, the study also suggests that human capital, which is accrued from liberalization processes, is responsible for amplifying wage inequality..
Keywords. Wages, International trade, Asymmetries.
JEL. E24, F40, J30.References
Acemoglu, D., Johanson, S., & Robinson, J.A. (2001). The colonial origins of comparative development: An empirical investigation. American Economic Review, 91(5), 1369-1401. doi. 10.1257/aer.91.5.1369
Amann, E., Aslanidis, N., Nixon, F., & Walters, B. (2002). Economic growth and poverty alleviation: A reconsideration of Dollar and Kraay. Development Economic Discussion Papers, No.0407. [Retrieved from].
Arbache, J.S., Dickerson, A., & Green, F. (2004). Trade liberalisation and wages in developing countries. Economic Journal, 114(493), 73-96. doi. 10.1111/j.0013-0133.2004.00188.x
Barro, R.J. (1999). Does an income gap put a hex on growth. Business Week, March 29.
Behrman, J.R., Birdsall, N., & Szekely, M. (2001). Pobreza, desigualdad, y liberalizacion comercial y financiera en America Latina. Inter American Development Bank (IADB), Washington D.C. [Retrieved from].
Berthelemy, J.-C. (2004). To what extent are African education policies pro-poor. Unpublished Paper, [Retrieved from].
Bourguignon, F., & Morrison, C. (1999). Income distribution, development and foreign trade: A cross section analysis. European Economic Review, 34(6), 1113-1132. doi. 10.1016/0014-2921(90)90071-6
Castello, A., & Domeneceh R. (2002). Human capital inequality and economic growth: Some new evidence. Economic Journal, 112(478), C187-C200. doi. 10.1111/1468-0297.00024
Chen, S., & Ravallion, M. (2003). Household welfare impacts of China’s accession to the World Trade Organization. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, No.3040. [Retrieved from].
Cockburn, J. (2002). Trade liberalization and poverty in Nepal: A computable general equilibrium micro simulation analysis. The Centre for the Study of African Economies, Working Paper Series, No.170. [Retrieved from].
DeGregorio, J., & Lee, J.-W. (1999). Education and income distribution: New evidence from cross-country data. Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID), Development Discussion Paper, No.714. [Retrieved from].
Dollar, D., & Kraay, A. (2004). Trade, growth, and poverty. Economic Journal, 114(493), F22-F49. doi. 10.1111/j.0013-0133.2004.00186.x
Dollar, D., & Kraay, A. (2002). Institutions, trade and growth. Carnegie Rochester Conference on Public Policy, [Retrieved from].
Dur, R.A.J., & Teulings, C.N. (2002). Education, income distribution and public policy. Unpublished draft, Tinbergen Institute. [Retrieved from].
Eiche, T.S., & Cecilia, G.-P. (2001). Inequality and growth: The dual role of human capital in development. Journal of Development Economics, 66(1), 173-197. doi. 10.1016/S0304-3878(01)00160-2
Fischer, R.D. (2001). The evolution of inequality after trade liberalization. Journal of Development Economics, 66(2), 555-579. doi. 10.1016/S0304-3878(01)00174-2
Frankel, J., & Romer, D. (1999). Does trade cause growth?. American Economic Review, 89(3), 379-399. doi. 10.1257/aer.89.3.379
Friedman, J. (2000). Differential impacts of trade liberalisation on Indonesia’s poor and non-poor. Conference on International Trade and poverty, Stockholm, October 20.
Goldberg, P.K. & Pavcnik, N. (2004). Trade, inequality and poverty: What do we know? Evidence from recent trade liberalization episodes in developing countries. Conference Paper Brooking Trade Forum, 2004. [Retrieved from].
Hall, R.E., & Jones, I.J. (1999). Why do some countries produce so much more output per worker than others?. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 114(1), 83-116. doi. 10.1162/003355399555954
Hanson, G., & Harisson, A. (1999). Trade and wage inequality in Mexico. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 52(2), 271-288. doi. 10.1177/001979399905200207
Jayasuriya, S. (2002). Globalisation, equity and poverty: The South Asian experience. Annual Global Conference of GDN, Cairo, Egypt.
Legovini, A., Bouillon, C., Lustig, N. (2001). Can education explain income inequality changes in Mexico?. Inter-American development Bank (IADB), Washington D.C. [Retrieved from].
Lofgren, H. (1999). Trade reform and the poor in morocco: A rural-urban general equilibrium analysis of reduced protection. TMD Discussion Paper, IFPRI, Washington DC. No.38. [Retrieved from].
Murshed, S.M. (2003). Globalization is not always good: An economists perspective, Tilburg Lustrum Conference, [Retrieved from].
Ravallion, M. (2003). The debate on globalization, poverty, and inequality: Why measurement matters. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, No.3038, [Retrieved from].
Rodrik, D., Subramanian, A., Trbbi, F., (2004). Institutions rule: The primacy of institutions over geography and integration in economic development. Journal of Economic Growth, 9(2), 131-165.
Rose, A.K. (2002). Do WTO members have a more liberal trade policy?. NBER Working Paper, No.9347. doi. 10.3386/w9347
Thomas, V., Wang, Y., Fan, X. (2000). Measuring education inequality: Gini coefficients of education. Mimeo, Banque Mondiale, [Retrieved from].
Tinbergen, J. (1975). Income Distribution: Analysis and Policies, Amsterdam: American Elsevier.
Tilak, J.B.G. (1989). Education and its Relation to Economic Growth, Poverty and Income Distribution, World Bank: Washington D.C.
Teulings, C.N., Rens, T. (2002). Education, growth and income inequality,” CESifo Working Paper Series, No.653. [Retrieved from].
Winters, L.A. (2004). Trade liberalization and economic performance: An overview. The Economic Journal, 114, 4-21. doi. 10.1111/j.0013-0133.2004.00185.x
Winters, L.A (2000). Trade liberalisation and poverty. Poverty Research Unit, University of Sussex, Discussion Paper, No.7. [Retrieved from].
World Bank, (2001a). A globalized Market – Opportunities and Risks for the Poor, Global Poverty Report, Washington D.C.
World Bank, (2001b). World Development Report 2000/1, Attacking Poverty.
Wood, A., Ridao-Cano, C. (1999). Skill, trade and international inequality. Oxford Economic Papers, 51(1), 89-119. doi. 10.1093/oep/51.1.89