The imputed effect of US tariffs on wages

Abstract

This paper imputes the effects of US tariffs on wages attributing variation in the import price index completely to tariffs starting with availability of the index in 1983. The average wage derived from the labor share of income and the labor force is treated as the dependent variable. Single equation error correction estimates based on the factor proportions model include energy Btu input with capital and labor. Fixed capital assets effectively imbed technology. An intensive specification based on growth theory and a labor market model are also estimated. These estimates find no imputed effects of tariffs on wages.