This paper provides a theory of wage inequality that hinges on entrepreneurship. The theory is motivated by new empirical findings. Among them, I document that in countries where barriers to entrepreneurship are high, wage inequality is low. As noted in the literature, differences in wage inequality across countries are, to a great extent, determined by differences in the skill premium, defined...

In a “New Trade”model with endogenous supply of skill, how knowledge difussion through international trade a¤ects growth and skill premium depends on responsiveness of skill supply to technological change. The less responsive is skill supply, the more likely that lower skill-premium accompanies higher growth after opening to trade. 1 Introduction This project deals with the question of what e¤e...

This paper builds a model of human capital accumulation driven by increasing specialization of the workforce. Individuals increase the efficiency of time dedicated to human capital acquisition by focusing investments on narrower sets of skills. The evolution of secondary and post-secondary curricula in the United States from 18702000 confirms the presence of these changes in the scope of specia...

I introduce endogenous human-capital accumulation into an infinitehorizon version of Chari & Hopenhayn’s (1991) vintage-human-capital model. Different skill levels inside a vintage are complementary in production. I establish equivalence between competitive equilibrium and a planner’s problem, which ensures uniqueness of equilibrium. Returns to skill and tenure premia are highest in young vinta...