We study the e¤ects of additional distortions or shocks, such as a fair-wage constraint and/or the possibility of o¤shoring unskilled jobs, in a two-factor general equilibrium model of unemployment with search frictions. While the direct point of impact of such shocks is on unskilled workers, we also …nd interesting indirect spillover e¤ects on skilled workers. A binding fair-wage constraint in...

We analyze the economic factors which have contributed to the dramatic decline of the employment share of unskilled labor in German manufacturing, in particular the role played by the relatively rigid earnings structure. Potential effects of intensified international competition and skill–biased technological change on the relative employment and earnings position of unskilled workers are also ...

In this paper, using a production framework in which skilled and unskilled labor are imperfect substitutes, we analyze the time paths of the efficiencies of skilled and unskilled labor and their implications for wage inequality and economic growth. We find no evidence that supports the common view that there has been an acceleration in skilled biased technical change. Indeed, after 1973 the eff...

Labour productivity affects food security, but quantifying this relationship has been scarce with respect to empirical literature. The Central Madagascar dataset explores the influence of labour productivity and related variables on the food security status of cassava farmers. Drawing on both theory and empirical evidence, this paper argues that fundamental effects of links between labour produ...

In recent years, Nigeria witnessed significant labour migration coupled with reduction in rural agricultural productivity. Youths abandoned farms for ventures with high returns and less drudgery in cities thus labour availability in peak agricultural seasons became scarce. The declining farm population constituting mostly women and old men are not capable of producing sufficient food for the no...

This paper presents an analysis of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), one key South African government policy initiatives that are meant to ease burden poverty or unemployment on poor and unskilled. Historically, such programmes have been used as a relief during short-term crises. Of late, countries adopted them for long-term structural challenges. In Africa programme is protect women ...