IMF Working Papers

Growth and Employment in the Dominican Republic: Options for a Job-Rich Growth

By Umidjon Abdullaev, Marcello M. Estevão

February 8, 2013

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Umidjon Abdullaev, and Marcello M. Estevão Growth and Employment in the Dominican Republic: Options for a Job-Rich Growth, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2013) accessed September 19, 2024

Also available in: español

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

The Dominican Republic has posted high rates of output and productivity growth, but labor market indicators have remained weak during the past 20 years. This paper documents these trends, showing that the rapid productivity growth originates in a few sectors, while the bulk of job creation is concentrated elsewhere. The speed of job creation has not been enough to raise employment rates, and lackluster real earnings along with still-rampant labor market informality suggest that most of the new jobs are of low quality. Low real wages and low labor force participation suggest the need of raising market wages above fallback incomes to attract individuals to the labor force. For that, measures to improve education and reduce product market distortions would be helpful.

Subject: Education, Employment, Labor, Labor force, Labor force participation, Labor markets, Wages

Keywords: Caribbean, Employment, Employment generation mechanism, Employment share, Inclusive growth, Job quality, Job-search assistance, Labor force, Labor force participation, Labor markets, Labor productivity, Market wage, Policies index, Product market, Product market condition, Product market constraint, Product market reform, Product market regulation, Productivity growth, Search assistance program, Wage, Wages, Worker, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    25

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2013/040

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA2013040

  • ISBN:

    9781475518573

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941

Notes

Full text also available in Spanish