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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://purl.umn.edu/50161

Title: Do Trading Partners Matter for Labour Market Inequality? The Malaysian Case
Authors: Devadason, Evelyn
Authors (Email): Devadason, Evelyn (evelyns@um.edu.my)
Keywords: bilateral trade flows
skill inequality
wage inequality
JEL Codes: J23
F16
Issue Date: 2007
Abstract: This study examines the differential impact of major bilateral trade flows on labour market inequality for the period 1983 to 2000. The focus is on the key trading partners of Malaysia, which are the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the United States of America and Japan. The paper finds that the direction of trade or rather the “whom” aspects of trade matter for inequality trends. There are striking differences on the labour market when export destinations are considered relative to import sources. The results suggest that an expansion in exports to countries that are relatively skilled labour abundant causes greater product market competition, thereby increasing the demand for skilled labour vis-a-vis unskilled labour in the domestic market. Inequality outcomes however do not differ with import source, as there is a general dampening effect of import expansion on the former in the short- and long run. The results clearly do not lend support to the widespread belief that imports from countries that are relatively skilled labour abundant reduce labour market inequality.
URI: http://purl.umn.edu/50161
Institution/Association: Review of Applied Economics>Volume 3, Number 1-2, 2007
Total Pages: 14
From Page: 123
To Page: 136
Collections:Volume 03, Number 1-2, 2007

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