Trading Tasks: A Simple Theory of Offshoring

Introduction The Model Conclusion
Trading Tasks: A Simple Theory of Offshoring
Gene M. Grossman and Esteban Rossi-Hansberg
Princeton University
June 26, 2014
Grossman and Rossi-Hansberg (Princeton University)
A Simple Theory of Offshoring
June 26, 2014
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Introduction The Model Conclusion
Introduction
The nature of international trade has changed
For centuries, trade largely entailed an exchange of complete goods
Now, trade increasingly involves bits of value being added in many different
locations: Trade in tasks!
Boom in “offshoring” of both manufacturing tasks and other business functions
Need for a new paradigm, one that puts task trade at center stage
The paper develops a simple and tractable model of offshoring that features
such trade in tasks
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A Simple Theory of Offshoring
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Introduction The Model Conclusion
Towards a New Paradigm
A different conceptualization of the production process
Production of every good requires the performance of a continuum of tasks by
each of the factors of production
Tasks might be performed in different locations
Firms are motivated to offshore tasks by factor-cost savings, but trading tasks is
costly
A model with two industries, perfect competition, and two factors of
production
The authors study how decreases in offshoring costs affect the wages of
different types of labor
They nd that low-skilled workers may bene t from the production of
low-skilled tasks abroad
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Introduction The Model Conclusion
The Model
Model allows trade in tasks, as well as trade in goods
Production involves a continuum of L tasks and continuum of H tasks
Industries differ in factor intensity, as usual
Normalize measure of tasks of each type to one
Cost of offshoring task i is given by βt (i )
Order tasks so t 0 (i )
1
0 and assume t (i ) is continuously differentiable
For the moment only L-tasks can be offshore and same t (i ) schedule in each
industry
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Introduction The Model Conclusion
Firm's Problem
Consider production in sector j 2 fX , Y g
Assume rms, or industry, produces using a Constant Returns to Scale
technology
Firms maximize pro ts
max fpj Yj
cj Yj g
Yj ,Ij
where
cj = waLj (1
Ij ) + w aLj
Firm will offshore tasks [0, Ij ] where
Z Ij
0
βt (i )di + saHj + ...
w = β t ( Ij ) w ,
and if the rm produces a positive amount
pj = c j
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June 26, 2014
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Introduction The Model Conclusion
Marginal Costs
Cost of producing good j using home technology are given by
cj
= waLj (1
= waLj (1
I ) + w aLj
I ) + waLj
= waLj Ω(I ) + saHj
where
Ω (I ) = 1
I+
RI
0
Z I
RI
t (i )di
t (I )
0
0
βt (i )di + saHj
t (i )di
t (I )
+ saHj
with Ω0 (I )
0
So possibility of offshoring affects costs exactly as labor-augmenting
technological change
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A Simple Theory of Offshoring
June 26, 2014
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Introduction The Model Conclusion
Equilibrium
Assume that both industries are active, then price is equal to unit cost (good
X is numeraire and skill intensive)
1
= w ΩaLx + saHx
p
= w ΩaLy + saHy
Factor market clearing implies
aLx x (1
I ) + aLy y (1
I)
= L ()
aLx x + aLy y
=
aHx x + aHy y
=
L
1 I
H.
These 4 equations determine x , y , w Ω, s as functions of p, I and L, H .
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Introduction The Model Conclusion
Small Heckscher-Ohlin Economy
Consider a small economy (p and w
xed) with two factors, L and H, and
two goods. Then
1
= w ΩaLx (w Ω/s ) + saHx (w Ω/s )
p
= w ΩaLy (w Ω/s ) + saHy (w Ω/s )
which implies that w Ω and s depend only on p. That is,
ŵ =
Ω̂ and ŝ = 0
Therefore, if β goes down, then I goes up and, thereby, Ω goes down,
implying that
ŵ
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0.
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Introduction The Model Conclusion
Large Heckscher-Ohlin Economy
Need a reason for differences in factor prices across countries
Assume foreign country has inferior technology so that offshoring ows in one
direction
Let A measure Hicks-neutral technological inferiority in both industries, then
with incomplete specialization
A aLx w + A aHx s
=
1
A aLy w + A aHy s
=
p
Incomplete specialization implies that in equilibrium there is adjusted Factor
Price Equalization:
Grossman and Rossi-Hansberg (Princeton University)
wΩ
= w A
s
= s A
A Simple Theory of Offshoring
June 26, 2014
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Introduction The Model Conclusion
Large Heckscher-Ohlin Economy
This implies that both countries have similar aFj , so factor clearing conditions
are given by
A aLx x + A aLy y + β
Z I
0
t (i )di (aLx x + aLy y )
= L
A aHx x + A aHy y
= H
or
aLx x + aLy y
=
aHx x + aHy y
=
Grossman and Rossi-Hansberg (Princeton University)
L
A
H
A
βL
A (1 I )
A Simple Theory of Offshoring
Z I
0
t (i )di
June 26, 2014
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Introduction The Model Conclusion
Large Heckscher-Ohlin Economy
After some algebra
x +x
=
y +y
=
where Ma = aHx aLy
aLy H +
H
A
+
L
A
aLx H +
H
A
aHy
L
Ω
Ma
aHx
L
Ω
+
L
A
Ma
aLx aHy > 0.
Goods market equilibrium:
y +y
x +x
= D (p )
where D (p ) is the world relative demand: D 0 (p ) < 0.
y
If β # =) I " and Ω #. This in turn implies that yx +
+x " and p falls: p̂ < 0.
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June 26, 2014
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Introduction The Model Conclusion
Large Heckscher-Ohlin Economy
Hence, p # implies Relative Price Effect favors H and harms L
Overall:
ŵ =
Ω̂ + µ1 p̂
and
ŝ =
µ2 p̂
H must gain, L may gain or lose
Possible Pareto gains for home country if productivity effect large enough
Note complete analogy with labor-augmenting technological progress in
home country
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A Simple Theory of Offshoring
June 26, 2014
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Introduction The Model Conclusion
Conclusion
In the past:
Countries produced mostly complete products that they consumed and traded
with other nations
Today:
Drastic reductions in transport and communication costs have facilitated direct
trade in tasks
Traditional bene ts from worker specialization plus gains generated when tasks
are performed at the lowest cost location
Proposed a new paradigm where task trade takes center stage and:
Offshoring of a particular factor's tasks is equivalent to
factor-augmenting technological progress
Offshoring may lead to Pareto gains for source country
Grossman and Rossi-Hansberg (Princeton University)
A Simple Theory of Offshoring
June 26, 2014
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