This volume investigates the links between employment, trade and structural transformation. In the context of global rebalancing, accompanied by inevitable changes in trade patterns between Asia and the rest of the world, the volume’s chapters analyze the links between trade openness and trends in employment and its quality. Specifically, through Asian case studies (both analytical and econometric), the volume examines how trade and export-led growth models have led to specialization and evolving demands on various types of labor. The rapidly changing labor market contours in developing Asia during this era of globalization, along with the new context resulting from the recent global financial crisis and new insights from theoretical literature, have led to the need for such studies. This volume helps fill this gap in the literature.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“The recent recession has raised important questions not only for the economies of relatively rich countries but also for the emerging economies of Asia and for their paths to development. These questions are raised in this volume in which scholars interested in issues covering the union of international trade, economic growth, and labor markets will find much food for thought.” – John Pencavel, Pauline K. Levin-Robert L. Levin and Pauline C. Levin-Abraham Levin Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Senior Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research “A timely volume on the crucial question of trade and employment, studied in the dynamic and important context of East Asia. The mix of findings based on detailed empirical work and country experiences using case studies is innovative. Extremely relevant for policymakers in emerging countries everywhere.” – Kishore S.Gawande, Helen and Roy Ryu Professor of Economics and Government, The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University “This volume makes an important and timely contribution to our understanding of the relationship between international trade, employment and structural change in Asia. The authors convincingly demonstrate that labor intensive manufacturing for export has created large numbers of jobs for relatively unskilled labor generating growth enhancing structural change. And they correctly point out that the key question facing policymakers at this point in time is whether or not this trend can continue in light of rising wages and limited growth in the industrialized world. Both the thematic chapters and the county case studies are a ‘must read’ for anyone interested in these issues.” – Margaret McMillan, Associate Professor of Economics, Tufts University, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI “This excellent collection of research papers edited by Khor and Mitra deftly combines theoretical insight with country case-studies to explore a wide range of issues concerning globalization, growth and labor markets in Asia and the implications for the global economy. Highly recommended for academics, policy makers and students seeking to understand these complex issues and to craft policy solutions.” – Pravin Krishna, Chung Ju Yung Distinguished Professor of International Economics, Johns Hopkins University “The impact of trade on labor markets depends heavily on country characteristics. This important book provides a combination of country case studies and theme driven research to help us better understand the impact that globalization had on different aspects of labor markets in one of the most interconnected regions of the world. This is a must read for policy makers and academics who want to understand how labor market conditions are affected by changes in world markets.” – Marcelo Olarreaga, Professor of Economics, University of Geneva
About the Author
Niny Khor is an economist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Resident Mission in the People’s Republic of China in Beijing. Her current research focuses on Chinese economic growth and the structural transformation of its factor markets. She was previously based in the Economics and Research Department of ADB, where she researched patterns of employment and trade in Asia, as well as what helps enterprises to grow. Prior to joining ADB, she was an economist at the UBS headquarters in Switzerland, and a postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford Center for International Development. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University.
Devashish Mitra is Professor of Economics and Cramer Professor of Global Affairs at the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, Syracuse University. He is Coeditor of Economics and Politics, and Associate Editor of European Economic Review, Journal of Development Economics, Journal of International Economics etc. His current research interests are at the interface of trade and labor. His work has been published in well-known journals like the American Economic Review, Review of Economics & Statistics, Economic Journal, Journal of International Economics, Journal of Development Economics etc. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Columbia University.
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