We investigate the impact of international outsourcing on productivity using plant level data for Irish manufacturing …. Specifically, we distinguish the effect of outsourcing of materials from services inputs. Moreover, we examine whether the impact … multinational. Our results show robust evidence for positive effects from outsourcing of services inputs for exporters, either …

Outsourcing of labor intensive activities challenges the welfare state and undermines the protection of low … results are: (i) Social insurance props up wages, leading to more outsourcing and unskilled unemployment. (ii) Redistribution … from the skilled to the working poor acts as a wage subsidy to unskilled workers, thereby reducing gross wages, outsourcing …