TBTs, firm organization and labor structure

This article investigates the effect of shocks to the occu-pational structure of exporting firms induced by theintroduction of technical barriers to trade (TBTs) inimporting countries. We rely on specific trade concernsdata to identify trade-restrictive TBT measures, com-binedwithmatchedemployer-employeedataforFrenchexportersovertheperiod1995–2010,andinformationonthe product-destinations served by each exporter. Con-trolling for time-invariant firm/occupation fixed effectsand for time-varying sector/occupation shocks, the 2SLSestimates show that exporting firms adapt to the impo-sition of TBTs at destination by increasing the share of managers at the expense of blue collars, white collars and other professionals