經濟全球化與家庭所得不均度──臺灣的實證研究

ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION AND HOUSEHOLD INCOME INEQUALITY: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF TAIWAN

臺灣自1980年代起採取貿易自由化政策，並逐漸讓金融自由化；在此同時，家庭所得不均度亦持續擴大。本研究的目的為實證探討經濟全球化（貿易及金融自由化）是否為造成臺灣家庭所得不均度擴大的原因？我們以1980－2013年時間序列資料，並考慮五個國內控制變數進行分析。實證結果顯示，擴大貿易會降低所得不均度，資本流出會使所得不均度上升，但因資本流出占GDP比例甚低，故整體而言經濟全球化會使所得不均度縮小。造成家庭所得不均度擴大的原因，最主要為國內產業偏向技術工人的技術進步；高等教育使技術工人的相對供給增加也會使所得不均度擴大，但1990年代後高等教育的大幅擴張則有助於降低所得不均度。此外，2002及2004年兩次金融改革後也會使所得不均度上升。 Since the 1980s, Taiwan has adopted trade liberalization policies and gradually promoted financial liberalization; meanwhile, the extent of household income inequality has become pronounced over time. The goal of this paper is to empirically investigate whether economic globalization (trade and financial liberalization) has led to the rising household income inequality in Taiwan. Our analysis is based on time-series data from 1980 to 2013 with the consideration of five domestic control variables. The empirical results show that trade openness reduces the income inequality, whereas capital outflows result in an increase in income inequality. Since capital outflows only constitute a very small share of GDP, economic globalization tends to lower income inequality overall. Our results indicate that technological progress in favor of skilled labor is the main driver of the rising household income inequality. Higher education increases the relative supply of skilled workers and also adversely affects the income distribution. However, the massive expansion of higher education beginning in the 1990s helps reduce the income inequality. In addition, the two financial reforms implemented in 2002 and 2004 also contribute to higher income inequality.