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Has International Trade Affected Workers’ Bargaining Power?

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Abstract

In this paper, we investigate whether globalization has affected workers’ bargaining power in the Belgian manufacturing industry over the period 1987–1995 using a sample of more than 20,000 firms. We find little evidence of international trade and inward foreign direct investment having an impact on the workers’ bargaining power. We find some evidence that technological change has a positive impact on the workers’ bargaining power.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 122, EPIP, Phase 2, John F. Welch Technology Centre, Hoodi Village, Whitefield Road, Bangalore, 560 066, India

    Ellen Brock

  2. SHERPPA, Ghent University, Ghent, The Netherlands

    Sabien Dobbelaere

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  1. Ellen Brock
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  2. Sabien Dobbelaere
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Correspondence to Ellen Brock.

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JEL no.

C23, D21, F16, F23, J50, L13

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Brock, E., Dobbelaere, S. Has International Trade Affected Workers’ Bargaining Power?. Rev. World Econ. 142, 233–266 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10290-006-0066-8

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