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

Janet Currie, Ann Harrison

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

145 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)S44-S71
JournalJournal of Labor Economics
Volume15
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1997
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Industrial relations
  • Economics and Econometrics

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