Working Paper

Immigration and outsourcing: a general equilibrium analysis


Abstract: We analyze the effects of outsourcing in the presence of a minimum wage by presenting a general-equilibrium model with an oligopolistic export sector and a competitive import-competing sector. An outsourcing tax is politically popular because it switches jobs to unemployed natives. It is also economically sound because it raises national income. An export subsidy may or may not be justified on welfare grounds. Increased international competition has no effect on the level of outsourcing, but the direction of its effect on unemployment and national income depends on the relative factor intensities of the two sectors.

Keywords: Immigrants; Labor market; Contracting out;

Access Documents

File(s): File format is application/pdf http://research.stlouisfed.org/wp/2005/2005-058.pdf

Authors

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Part of Series: Working Papers

Publication Date: 2007

Number: 2005-058