Globalization and the Open Economy
Document Type
Article
Department
Economics (CMC)
Publication Date
1997
Abstract
Does offshore sourcing by domestic producers destroy jobs? Does it lower wages? To a growing number of observers the answer to both questions appears to be affirmative. This paper examines the issue in the context of a conventional trade framework that has been amended to allow production to be disaggregated into its constituent activities. Offshore sourcing generally increases employment in an industry by creating more jobs in the remaining activities than are lost to sub-contracting. Offshore sourcing by labor-intensive importables industries raises both employment and wages. In general, offshore sourcing enables producers to strengthen their competitive positions against foreign rivals in the markets for end-products. When offshore sourcing involves simultaneous intra-product specialization in a labor-scarce importing country (like the United States) and a labor-abundant exporting country (like Mexico), employment and wages rise in both.
Rights Information
Copyright © 1997 Published by Elsevier Inc.
Terms of Use & License Information
DOI
10.1016/S1062-9408(97)90020-6
Recommended Citation
Sven W. Arndt, Globalization and the open economy, The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Volume 8, Issue 1, 1997, Pages 71-79, ISSN 1062-9408, 10.1016/S1062-9408(97)90020-6. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1062940897900206)
