The effect of trade liberalization on informality and wages: evidence from Mexico

Aleman-Castilla, Benjamin (2006) The effect of trade liberalization on informality and wages: evidence from Mexico. CEPDP (763). London School of Economics and Political Science. Centre for Economic Performance, London, UK. ISBN 0753020696

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Abstract

This paper studies the impact of NAFTA on informality and real wages in Mexico. Using a dynamic industry model with firm heterogeneity, it is predicted that import tariff elimination could reduce the incidence of informality by making more profitable to some firms to enter the formal sector, forcing the less productive informal firms to exit the industry, and inducing the most productive formal firms to engage in trade. The model also predicts market share reallocations towards the most productive firms, and an increase in real wages due to the increased labour demand by these firms. Using data on Mexican and U.S. import tariffs together with the Mexican National Survey of Urban Labour (ENEU), I find that reductions in the Mexican import tariffs are significantly related to reductions in the likelihood of informality in the tradable industries. I also find that informality decreases less in industries with higher levels of import penetration, while it decreases more in industries that are relatively more export oriented. Finally, I confirm that the elimination of the Mexican import tariffs is related to an increase in real wages, and that the elimination of the U.S. import tariff has contributed to the expansion of the formal-informal wage differentials.

Item Type:	Monograph (Discussion Paper)
Official URL:	http://cep.lse.ac.uk
Additional Information:	© 2006 Benjamin Aleman-Castilla
Divisions:	Centre for Economic Performance Economics
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HF Commerce H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor
JEL classification:	F - International Economics > F0 - General > F02 - International Economic Order F - International Economics > F1 - Trade > F14 - Country and Industry Studies of Trade F - International Economics > F1 - Trade > F15 - Economic Integration J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J2 - Time Allocation, Work Behavior, and Employment Determination and Creation; Human Capital; Retirement > J23 - Employment Determination; Job Creation; Demand for Labor; Self-Employment F - International Economics > F1 - Trade > F16 - Trade and Labor Market Interactions J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J3 - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs > J31 - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials by Skill, Training, Occupation, etc. J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J0 - General > J00 - General J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J2 - Time Allocation, Work Behavior, and Employment Determination and Creation; Human Capital; Retirement > J21 - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure F - International Economics > F0 - General > F00 - General
Date Deposited:	21 Jul 2008 15:30
Last Modified:	13 Sep 2024 19:59
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/19779

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