Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/30454 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 2895
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
This paper sets up a general oligopolistic equilibrium model with unionized labor markets. By accounting for productivity differences, the model features profit and wage differentials across industries. We use this setting to study the impact of trade liberalization on employment, welfare, and the distribution of income. In particular, we show that a movement from autarky to free trade with a symmetric partner country lowers union wage claims and therefore stimulates employment and raises welfare. Whether firms can extract a larger share of rents in the open economy depends on the competitive environment as well as on the degree of centralization in union wage setting. Finally, the distribution of profit income across firm owners remains unaffected, while the distribution of wage income becomes more equal when a country opens up to trade.
Subjects: 
general oligopolistic equilibrium
unionized labor market
trade liberalization
income distribution
JEL: 
F12
F16
J51
L13
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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