Online Australasian Seminar in International Economics (OASIS)
Deakin University, James Cook University, Melbourne University, Monash University, University of Auckland
Online Australasian Seminar in International Economics (OASIS)
Deakin University, James Cook University, Melbourne University, Monash University, University of Auckland
Welcome to the OASIS! OASIS is co-organized by A/Professor Reshad Ahsan, Professor Phillip McCalman, Dr. Krisztina Orbán, Dr. Cong S. Pham, Dr. Maria Ptashkina, A/Professor Laura Puzzello, A/Professor Asha Sundaram, Dr. Haiping Zhang, and A/Professor Sizhong Sun.
This is a seminar series on international economics-related topics for economists based in Australia and New Zealand and invited international speakers from around the world.
The format of the seminar is a 60-minute talk followed by a 15-minute Q&A. Unless otherwise specified, seminars will take place on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. To convert the AEST or NZST time to your time zone, please click here.
Please email oasis.intlecon@gmail.com to sign up for the OASIS mailing list.
UPCOMING OASIS SEMINAR:
October 22, Time 18:00 AEDT (20:00 NZDT)
Speaker: Isabella Manelici (LSE)
Title: The Gains from Foreign Multinationals in an Economy with Distortions (with Mauricio Ulate, Jose P. Vasquez and Roman David Zarate)
Abstract:
What are the welfare effects of foreign multinational enterprises (MNEs) in an economy with distortions? First, we leverage rich microdata on all establishments in Mexico from 1994 to 2019, including informal ones and foreign MNEs within and outside the maquila program. We construct direct measures of distortions such as the burden of crime and corruption and imperfectly enforced labor taxes. On average, domestic formal establishments face higher distortions than informal ones, while maquila MNEs are the least distorted formal establishments. Distortions vary significantly across commuting zones (CZs). Second, using an instrumental variable strategy, we find that one additional MNE worker per capita in a CZ raises domestic employment by 0.33, mainly in formal establishments, thereby lowering the local informal employment share. Non-maquila MNEs drive the positive effects on the local economy. Third, we develop a general equilibrium (GE) model showing how distortions can amplify or attenuate the welfare gains from foreign MNEs. We use the IV estimates and initial distortion measures to calibrate the model and quantify the GE effects of foreign MNEs. Simulating a 10% MNE productivity boost in CZs with 1994-2019 MNE growth, we find a 6% aggregate welfare gain from MNEs—explained 25% by reallocation and 20% by local spillovers.
PROGRAM - 2025 - Semester 2
October 22, Time 18:00 AEDT (20:00 NZDT)
Isabella Manelici (LSE)
November 12, Time TBD
Jonathan Dingel (Columbia University)
November 26, Time TBD
Anais Galdin (Dartmouth College)
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August 13, Time 16:30 AEST (18:30 NZST)
Feodora Teti (Princeton University, LMU Munich, Ifo Institute)
Title: Missing Tariffs
August 27, Time 9:00 AEST (11:00 NZST)
Anca Cristea (University of Oregon)
Title: Organized Labor When Things Go South: Unions and the Labor Market Consequences of NAFTA
September 10, Time 9:00 AEST (11:00 NZST)
Jim Tybout (Penn State University)
Title: Two-sided Search in International Markets
September 24, Time 9:00 AEST (11:00 NZST)
Lidya Cox (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Title: The Macroeconomic Effects of the Buy American Act (with Miguel Acosta)