That Was then, this is Now: Skills and Routinization in the 2000s.

82 Pages Posted: 7 Mar 2016

See all articles by Davide Consoli

Davide Consoli

INGENIO; MIoIR

Francesco Vona

Observatoire Français des Conjonctures Economiques (OFCE) - Department for Research on Innovation and Competition

Francesco Rentocchini

European Commission-Joint Research Centre - Joint Research Centre-Seville; University of Milan - Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods (DEMM)

Date Written: September 1, 2014

Abstract

We analyze changes in the skill content of occupations in US four-digit manufacturing industries between 1999 and 2010. Following a ‘task-based’ approach, we elaborate a measure of Non-Routine skill intensity that captures the effects of industry exposure to both technology and international trade. The paper adds to previous literature by focusing on both the determinants of demand for Non-Routine skills and their effects on industry productivity and wages. The key finding is that import competition from low-wage countries has been a strong driver of demand for Non-Routine skills during the 2000s. Both technology and trade with low-wage countries are associated with mild cross-industry convergence in skill intensity while trade with high and medium wage countries are at root of persistent heterogeneity across occupational groups. We also find that higher Non-Routine skill intensity has had at best a modest effect on productivity and wages, except for high-skill occupations.

Suggested Citation

Consoli, Davide and Vona, Francesco and Rentocchini, Francesco, That Was then, this is Now: Skills and Routinization in the 2000s. (September 1, 2014). SWPS 2014-18, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2743111 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2743111

Davide Consoli (Contact Author)

INGENIO ( email )

Ciudad de la Innovacion
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Spain
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HOME PAGE: http://www.ingenio.upv.es/

MIoIR ( email )

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+441612757372 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/davide.consoli/

Francesco Vona

Observatoire Français des Conjonctures Economiques (OFCE) - Department for Research on Innovation and Competition ( email )

250 rue Albert Einstein
Valbonne, 06560
France

HOME PAGE: http://www.ofce.sciences-po.fr/ofce/dric.htm

Francesco Rentocchini

European Commission-Joint Research Centre - Joint Research Centre-Seville ( email )

Calle inca garcilaso 3
Seville, 41092
Spain

University of Milan - Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods (DEMM) ( email )

Via Conservatorio, 7
Milan, 20122
Italy

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