Time Zones, Shift Working and Outsourcing through Communications Networks.

Matsuoka, Yuji and Fukushima, Marcelo (2009): Time Zones, Shift Working and Outsourcing through Communications Networks.

Abstract

We build a trade model with two countries located in different time zones, a monopolistically competitive sector in which production requires differentiated goods produced using day and night labor, and shift working disutility. Consumers choose between working at a day shift or a night shift and firms may choose to “virtually” outsource foreign day time labor by using communications services. We found that the higher the disutility of working at night is, the smaller is the number of varieties produced. Trade is beneficial only under certain concavity and cost conditions. The higher the disutility of working at night, the larger can be the gains from trade.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Communications networks, shift work, time zones, outsourcing
• Subjects: J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J3 - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs; F - International Economics > F1 - Trade

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