Labor Market Segmentation in a Two-Sector Model of An Open Economy

Author/Editor:

Dimitri G Demekas

Publication Date:

April 1, 1990

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 paper examines formally the effects of labor market segmentation in a two-sector open economy model. The model demonstrates how the structure of the labor market affects the real exchange rate, defined as the relative price of traded and home goods, and is then used to examine the effects of two common labor market policies: increasing the degree of primary market coverage, and implementing wage restraint in the primary market. It is shown that increasing the degree of primary market coverage increases unemployment and leads to a real appreciation. Real wage restraint in the primary market, on the other hand, reduces unemployment, and has ambiguous but probably small effects on the real exchange rate.

Series:

Working Paper No. 1990/033

Subject:

Foreign exchange Labor Labor markets Real exchange rates Real wages Unemployment Wages

Notes:

Also published in Staff Papers, Vol. 37, No. 4, December 1990.

English

Publication Date:

April 1, 1990

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451979138/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA0331990

Pages:

32

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