Overview: Recent tariff increases have reignited debate over the impact of trade policy on workers. This talk examines how tariffs affect wages, employment, and regional inequality, emphasizing the role of labor-market frictions and slow adjustment dynamics. Drawing on recent theoretical and empirical research, it highlights that trade shocks generate concentrated and persistent disruptions, and what policies can help smooth the transition.

Dr. Rafael Dix-Carneiro is a Professor of Economics at Duke University and a Research Associate at the NBER. His research focuses on how international trade impacts labor markets, development, and economic adjustment. He currently serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of International Economics and Quantitative Economics.

This is the annual Levin Lecture, sponsored by the Economics Department in honor of  Professor Samuel M. Levin.