EH.Net Abstracts in Economic History

                ABSTRACTS IN ECONOMIC HISTORY
                    (c) 2000 EH.Net
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Name:  John E. Murray
Email:  jmurray at uoft02.utoledo.edu
Institution:  University of Toledo

Co-author: none

Title:  Chinese-Filipino Wage Differentials in Turn-of-the-Century Manila

Internet Address of abstracted work: not available

By mail:
John E. Murray
Department of Economics
University of Toledo
Toledo, OH  43606-3390

Language:  English

Abstract:
Quantitative-historical studies of Asian migrations have been limited by
availability of data. This paper uses an American survey of firms in Manila
in 1900 to examine wage differentials among white, Filipino, and Chinese
workmen and masters, paid by the day or by the month. Wages were adjusted
to include the value of room and board, a common component of remuneration
for Chinese. White workmen and masters were paid one-half to two-thirds
more than Filipinos. Chinese and Filipino masters were paid about equally.
Chinese workmen earned about two-fifths more than Filipino workmen. Half of
the Chinese premium was due to concentration in higher paying industries.
Among workmen paid by the day, the other half was due to longer workdays
for the Chinese, at ten hours rather than the eight hours common among
Filipino workmen. Among workmen paid by the month other sources of the
Chinese wage differential may have included their greater stature. Literacy
and tenure seem not to have played a role in these wage differentials.

Bibliography:  Murray, John E.  "Chinese-Filipino Wage Differentials in
Turn-of-the-Century Manila."  Working Paper, University of Toledo, July
2000.

Subject:  T
Geographical Area:  2
Country/Region:  Philippines
Time Period:  7

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