Trade and technology adoption in distorted economies

Abstract

This paper examines how labor market imperfections distort firm-level technology choices and alter the gains from trade in developing countries. Motivated by evidence that firms using modern technologies are disproportionately exposed to labor market distortions, we introduce firm-level technology choices and labor market distortions into an otherwise standard quantitative trade model. We then provide formulas for the welfare and labor productivity gains from trade liberalization, highlighting the role of distortions and technology choice. Our quantitative analysis reveals that labor market distortions provide a possible explanation for the inefficiently low levels of modern technology adoption in developing countries. Moreover, labor market distortions erode one-third of the potential labor productivity gains from trade liberalization among low-income countries.