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Trade Shocks, Taxes, and Inequality

Author

Listed:
  • Douglas L. Campbell

    (New Economic School (NES))

  • Lester Lusher

    (UC Davis)

Abstract
We study the impact of trade shocks on inequality using newly constructed micro and macro data. First, we use the Current Population Survey’s (CPS) Merged Outgoing Rotation Group (MORG) from 1979 to 2010 combined with new annual measures of imported inputs, a proxy for offshoring. We find that in periods when US relative prices are high, and imports surge relative to exports, workers in sectors with greater initial exposure to international trade were more likely to be unemployed a year later, but did not experience significant declines in wages conditional on being employed. Contrary to the usual narrative, we find negative wage effects for higher-wage, but not lower-wage workers, particularly for those who are less-educated. Second, sectors most exposed to trade shocks do not experience relative increases in inequality. Third, using aggregate international data for 31 countries, we find that various trade shocks, such as increases in trade with China, are not generally correlated with changes in the income distribution. Instead, using new historical data, we confirm a close connection between top marginal tax rates and top income shares, and find that the level of top marginal tax rates impacts changes in the top 1% share of income, implying that top income shares are a function of historical marginal tax rates.

Suggested Citation

  • Douglas L. Campbell & Lester Lusher, 2016. "Trade Shocks, Taxes, and Inequality," Working Papers w0220, New Economic School (NES).
    • Handle: RePEc:abo:neswpt:w0220
    as

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    File URL: https://www.nes.ru/files/Preprints-resh/WP220.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Citations

    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Ben Bernanke, in Denial? "When Growth is Not Enough"
      by Doug Campbell in Douglas L. Campbell on 2017-07-09 13:14:00

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    1. Campbell, Douglas L., 2020. "Relative Prices and Hysteresis: Evidence from US Manufacturing," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    2. Campbell, Douglas L. & Lusher, Lester, 2019. "The impact of real exchange rate shocks on manufacturing workers: An autopsy from the MORG," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 12-28.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inequality; Globalization; Skill-Biased Technological Change; American Manufacturings;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics
    • N60 - Economic History - - Manufacturing and Construction - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • L60 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - General

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