Is there job polarization in developing economies? A review and outlook

Antonio Neto, Nanditha Mathew (), Pierre Mohnen and Tania Treibich
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Nanditha Mathew: UNU-MERIT, Maastricht University

No 2021-045, MERIT Working Papers from United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT)

Abstract: This paper analyses the evidence of job polarization in developing countries. We carry out an extensive review of the existing empirical literature and examine the primary data sources and measures of routine intensity. The synthesis of results suggests that job polarization in emerging economies is only incipient compared to other advanced economies. We then examine the possible moderating aspects preventing job polarization, discussing the main theoretical channels and the existing empirical literature. Overall, the literature relates the lack of polarization as a natural consequence of limited technology adoption and the offshoring of routine, middle-earning jobs to some host developing economies. In turn, the limited technology adoption results from sub-optimal capabilities in those economies, including the insufficient supply of educated workers. Finally, we present the main gaps in the literature in developing economies and point to the need for more micro-level studies focusing on the impacts of tech- nology adoption on workers’ careers and studies exploring the adoption and use of technologies at the firm level.

Keywords: Job polarization; Routine intensity; Skills; Developing countries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E24 J24 J63 O15 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-11-25
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cwa, nep-his, nep-lma, nep-mac and nep-tid
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Is There Job Polarization in Developing Economies? A Review and Outlook (2024)
Working Paper: Is There Job Polarization in Developing Economies? A Review and Outlook (2021)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:unm:unumer:2021045

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