Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/20319 
Year of Publication: 
2004
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 1084
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper investigates the effects of trade liberalization on labor demand elasticities. Employment demand equation is estimated by using data (1971-1996) for manufacturing industries in Tunisia. Results from empirical testing using the model find a weak support for the idea assuming that trade liberalization will lead to an increase in labor demand elasticities: in the vast majority of the industries we consider, we cannot reject the hypothesis of no relationship between trade openness and labor-demand elasticities. This weakness of labor demand elasticity in practice is perhaps explained by the tight labor market regulations in place during the years 1987-96. However, our results are robust to the type of labor considered (contract labor and permanent labor). This supports the conclusion that in liberalization periods labor markets have become more flexible, and that employers prefer recruiting contract workers.
Subjects: 
trade reforms
imperfect competition
factor demand elasticities
Tunisian manufacturing industries
JEL: 
F12
F10
L60
J23
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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