Essays in Labor Economics: Licensing Policy, Export–Productivity Dynamics, and Shifts Among Remote-Work Managers

Abstract

This dissertation combines three empirical studies in labor economics, employing both micro- and macro-level analyses. The studies address important issues related to occupational licensing, export structure and labor productivity, and remote work among managers, each using real-world data and econometric methods to answer relevant research questions.

The first study examines the impact of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) on the labor market outcomes of registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs) in five newly participating states. Using monthly data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) between January 2016 and February 2020, the study applies a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) model. The results show that nurses in the newly compact states experienced a 3.6% reduction in real hourly wages after the policy, while the likelihood of working full-time increased by 23.7%. Usual weekly hours showed no significant change. These findings suggest that the eNLC may improve job access while influencing wage dynamics among the biggest licensed group in the healthcare industry.

The second study investigates how trade openness and the composition of exports and imports affect labor productivity in resource-intensive countries. Using annual panel data for 15 countries from 2005 to 2019 and a Panel Vector Autoregression (PVAR) model, the analysis compares very high HDI countries with high/medium HDI countries. In very high HDI countries, trade openness and natural resource exports support labor productivity growth, while higher productivity also leads to stronger trade engagement. In contrast, high/medium HDI countries show weaker or negative effects from resource exports and trade openness, with only manufacturing imports having a delayed positive effect. These results highlight how institutional strength and economic structure influence the gains from natural resource exports.

The third study analyzes how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the labor market outcomes of remote working managers. Using annual data from the American Community Survey (ACS) from 2017 to 2023 (excluding 2020) and applying a Regression Discontinuity in Time (RDiT) design, the study focuses on real hourly wages, weekly hours, and full-time employment. The results show that hourly wages increased by 7%, hours worked rose by 3%, and the probability of full-time employment went up by nearly five percentage points. These patterns are consistent across demographic groups and confirm that remote work has become a permanent feature of the labor market for high-skilled managerial workers.

Together, these studies provide timely evidence on how labor markets respond to changes in policy, trade, and work structure, offering insights for researchers, policymakers, and institutions shaping the future of work.