EconStor Collection:
http://hdl.handle.net/10419/6
2024-03-19T09:17:55ZLabor standards and social conditions in free trade zones: The case of the Manaus free trade zone
http://hdl.handle.net/10419/220001
Title: Labor standards and social conditions in free trade zones: The case of the Manaus free trade zone
Authors: Teixeira, Louisiana Cavalcanti
Abstract: The creation of the Manaus Free Trade Zone had a development purpose in the Brazilian political, economic and social scenario between 1960 and 1970. This industrial pole was an important device in achieving the desired development, populating a region considered deserted and exposed to external threats at that time. It has guaranteed the improvement on labor standards and social conditions in the Manaus' district and has become the main driving force behind regional employment, higher salaries and growth over the past decades. Using the residuals and the stochastic frontier techniques to estimate the labor and social performances of the Manaus Free Trade Zone, the analysis confirms that the implementation of the special economic zone collaborated to labor and social efficiency in the area - compared to other important industrial Brazilian municipalities - due to the rigid checks conducted by SUFRAMA and the strict respect of labor standards applied in the MFTZ. Nevertheless, economic linkages in the region are still weak and positive spillovers from Manaus to its surroundings were probably inexistent.2020-01-01T00:00:00ZFirms' export decisions: Self-selection versus trial-and-error
http://hdl.handle.net/10419/222534
Title: Firms' export decisions: Self-selection versus trial-and-error
Authors: Movahedi, Mohammad; Shahbazi, Kiumars
Abstract: In this paper, a conceptual theoretical model is developed to better integrate various dimensions of the firms' decision to export. The model sheds light on the affirmations of the founding models of the 'new theory of international trade', in particular the role of productivity and sunk costs of exporting in the firms' export decision. It also takes into account two stylized facts that seem difficult to be reconciled with the implications of the founding models: 1) many domestic firms, regardless of their productivity level, enter foreign markets every year with little sales and cease all exporting activities in less than a year; 2) several of high-productivity firms choose to only serve their domestic market.2020-01-01T00:00:00ZA replication of "The role of intermediaries in facilitating trade" (Journal of International Economics, 2011)
http://hdl.handle.net/10419/220003
Title: A replication of "The role of intermediaries in facilitating trade" (Journal of International Economics, 2011)
Authors: Duan, Jianhua; Xuefeng, Qian; Das, Kuntal K.; Meriluoto, Laura; Reed, W. Robert
Abstract: This study replicates Ahn, Khandelwal, and Wei's (2011) model of intermediary trade. The study produces two main results. First, the authors are able to reproduce empirical evidence for AKW's three main predictions for Chinese exports. This is impressive because much of the data for their replication are independently sourced. However, when the authors subject their model to additional tests, they find that the evidence is not robust. Using more recently available data to test AKW's first prediction, the authors estimate coefficients that are wrong-signed and significant. When they re-analyze the evidence supporting the second and third predictions, they find that the full sample results mask significant heterogeneity across Chinese regions. In many cases, key coefficients are insignificant. In a few cases, they are wrong-signed and significant. Finally, using multiple versions of a key variable measuring the number of required import documents by country, the authors discover that the results are not robust across versions.2020-01-01T00:00:00ZJob duration and inequality
http://hdl.handle.net/10419/214644
Title: Job duration and inequality
Authors: Chen, Siyan; Desiderio, Saul
Abstract: As suggested by recent empirical evidence, one of the causes behind the widespread rise of inequality experienced by OECD countries in the last few decades may have been the increased flexibility of labor markets. The authors explore this hypothesis through the analysis of a stock-flow consistent agent-based macroeconomic model able to reproduce with good statistical precision several empirical regularities. They employ three different sensitivity analysis techniques, which indicate that increasing job contract duration (i.e. decreasing flexibility) has the effect of reducing income and wealth inequality. However, the authors also find that this effect is diminished by tight monetary policy and low credit supply. The last result suggests that the final outcome of structural reforms aimed at changing labor flexibility can depend on the macroeconomic environment in which these are implemented.2020-01-01T00:00:00Z