The impact of real exchange rate shocks on manufacturing workers: An autopsy from the MORG

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of International Money and Finance
Year: 2019
Volume: 91
Issue: C
Pages: 12-28

Authors (2)

Campbell, Douglas L. (not in RePEc) Lusher, Lester (University of Pittsburgh)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We study the impact of large real exchange rate shocks on workers in sectors initially more exposed to international trade using 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 or exit the labor force 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.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jimfin:v:91:y:2019:i:c:p:12-28
Journal Field
International
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25