Concentration, labour quality and wages in the South African manufacturing sector

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Periodical article

Title:	Concentration, labour quality and wages in the South African manufacturing sector
Author:	Smit, Minette R.
Year:	1999
Periodical:	South African Journal of Economics
Volume:	67
Issue:	2
Pages:	289-319
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	economic concentration wages industry
External link:	https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1813-6982.1999.tb01143.x/pdf
Abstract:	Empirical studies indicate that higher wages are positively correlated with certain characteristics of industry, in particular product market concentration. This paper investigates the relative impact of industrial concentration and labour force characteristics on wages in the South African manufacturing sector. It considers, in contrast to other studies, insights from both the industrial economics field and the labour economics field in an integrated fashion. First, an overview of the theoretical background of the debate on the causes of inter-industry wage differentials is presented. Secondly, the results of previous studies are discussed. Thirdly, the relationship between product market concentration, labour quality and wages in the South African manufacturing sector is analysed. Lastly, policy implications are discussed. Bibliogr., notes, ref.