1st Edition

Globalisation and the Labour Market Trade, Technology and Less Skilled Workers in Europe and the United States

Edited By Robert Anderton, Paul Brenton, John Whalley Copyright 2006
    200 Pages
    by Routledge

    198 Pages
    by Routledge

    Incorporating new empirical data and using a wide variety of methods such as econometrics, general equilibrium and case studies, this detailed volume provides a thorough investigation into the causes of the deterioration in the relative economic fortunes of less-skilled workers across various countries, with a focus on the role of globalization.

    It reveals how in the past thirty years, the decline in the wages and employment of less-skilled workers relative to skilled workers in Europe and North America has coincided with an acceleration in 'globalization'. The latter's rapid pace is indicated by the strong growth in both world trade and foreign direct investment which, in turn, have been stimulated by various factors such as reductions in trade barriers a drastic decline in the costs of communication and transportation and the internationalization of production. Although it is now widely held that the main cause of this rise in inequality seems to be a shift in demand towards higher skilled workers, this book aims to shed light on whether it is trade or technology that is primarily responsible for this demand shift.

    Importantly, the studies in this book describe how globalisation and technological change are interacting rather than separate forces. Topical and timely, this significant book will be a valuable read for academic researchers, analysts and professional economists in the policy making community.

    Foreward by David Greenaway   Notes on the Contributors  1. Globalisation and the Labour Market  2. Inequality, Trade and Defensive Innovation in the USA  3. The Impact of Increased Openness on Job Creation and Job Destruction in Portugal  4. International Trade and the Income Position of Low-Skilled Workers in the European Union  5. Using Structural Models in Trade-Technology Wage Inequality Decompositions  6. Adjustment to Globalisation: A Study of the Footwear Industry in Europe  7. International Trade in Intermediate Inputs: the Case of the Automobile Industry  8. Outsourcing, Outward Processing and Output Quality: A Case-Study from the Ceramic Tableware Industry  9. Adjusting to Globalisation: Policy Responses in Europe and the USA   Bibliography

    Biography

    Robert Anderton, Paul Brenton, John Whalley