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American Economic Review: Vol. 99 No. 4 (September 2009)

AER Volume. 99, Issue 4 | Previous ArticleNext Article

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Offshoring and Volatility: Evidence from Mexico's Maquiladora Industry

Article Citation

Bergin, Paul R., Robert C. Feenstra, and Gordon H. Hanson. 2009. "Offshoring and Volatility: Evidence from Mexico's Maquiladora Industry." American Economic Review, 99(4): 1664-71.

DOI: 10.1257/aer.99.4.1664

Abstract

This paper studies the second-moment properties of offshoring, the arrangement whereby firms carry out particular stages of production abroad. It documents a new empirical regularity: maquiladora industries in Mexico that are associated with US offshoring experience fluctuations in employment that are twice as volatile as the corresponding industries in the United States. This finding is not attributable simply to higher volatility in the overall Mexican economy, nor to the smaller size of Mexico's industries compared to US counterparts. (JEL F14, F23, L24, L25, L60, O14)

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Authors

Bergin, Paul R. (U CA, Davis)
Feenstra, Robert C. (U CA, Davis)
Hanson, Gordon H. (U CA, San Diego)

JEL Classifications

F14: Country and Industry Studies of Trade
F23: Multinational Firms; International Business
L24: Contracting Out; Joint Ventures; Technology Licensing
L25: Firm Performance: Size, Diversification, and Scope
L60: Industry Studies: Manufacturing: General
O14: Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology