Cultural Diversity and Plant‐Level Productivity

43 Pages Posted: 6 Oct 2012

See all articles by Michaela S. Trax

Michaela S. Trax

Ruhr Graduate School in Economics

Stephan Brunow

Government of the Federal Republic of Germany - Institute for Employment Research (IAB)

Jens Suedekum

Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute); Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

Abstract

Using comprehensive data for German establishments (1999-2008), we estimate plant-level production functions to analyze if “cultural diversity” affects total factor productivity. We distinguish diversity in the establishment's workforce and in the aggregate regional labor force where the plant is located. We find that a larger share of foreign workers – either in the establishment or in the region – does not affect productivity. However, there are strong spillovers associated with the degree of cultural heterogeneity. The aggregate level is, quantitatively, at least as important as the workforce composition inside the establishment. Diversity thus seems to induce externalities beyond the boundaries of a single firm; it improves local business environments.

Keywords: cultural diversity, plant-level productivity, knowledge spillovers

JEL Classification: R23, J21, J31

Suggested Citation

Trax, Michaela S. and Brunow, Stephan and Südekum, Jens, Cultural Diversity and Plant‐Level Productivity. IZA Discussion Paper No. 6845, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2157987 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2157987

Michaela S. Trax (Contact Author)

Ruhr Graduate School in Economics ( email )

Hohenzollernstr. 1-3
Essen, NRW 45128
Germany

Stephan Brunow

Government of the Federal Republic of Germany - Institute for Employment Research (IAB) ( email )

Regensburger Str. 104
Nuremberg, 90478
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.iab.de

Jens Südekum

Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE) ( email )

Universitaetsstr. 1
Duesseldorf, NRW 40225
Germany

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) ( email )

London
United Kingdom

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute) ( email )

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany

Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

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