傳統的貿易理論認為，已開發中家若開放貿易會減少其國內低技術勞工的需求，降低低技術工的相對工資，進而惡化該國的不均度。反之，開發中國家若開放貿易會增加其國內低技術勞工的需求，提升低技術工的相對工資，進而改善該國的不均度。這個理論在亞洲四小龍的貿易開放歷程中獲得印證。但拉丁美洲各國在1980年代中期採行貿易自由化政策的結果，卻使該境內各國的工資不均度產生惡化的情況。許多學者認為中國大陸及其他低工資國家於1970年代末開放貿易、進入國際市場這一事件，是最可能導致東亞及拉丁美洲各國工資結構發展不同的主要原因。

　為了檢定「大陸開放貿易是導致東亞及拉丁美洲各國工資結構發展不同的主要原因」之假設，本研究採反證法將大陸的基期關稅調整為1984年大陸未申請復關時的關稅水準。若上述假設成立，則在大陸未開放市場的情況下，拉丁美洲各國之工資不均度應下降。

　研究結果發現1.中國大陸貿易自由化與否對東亞各國之影響顯著大於拉丁美洲各國； 2.大陸提高關稅對成衣業及紡織業所造成的衝擊最大； 3.大陸改革開放與拉丁美洲工資不均惡化並無直接關係。而造成此結果的根本原因在於中國大陸與拉丁美洲各國的出口相似度極低，兩地區在出口市場的競爭程度並不如一般想像中高。

中文部分
馬若孟著，董瑞麒譯，＜如何評估中共經濟發展的成果＞，中國大陸研究，笫二十九卷笫九期，1987，頁59-76。
陳坤銘，郭迺鋒，＜貿易自由化與相對工資—可計算一般均衡分析＞，2000。
董瑞麒，＜大陸轉變經濟增長方式之研析＞，中國大陸研究，笫三十九卷笫六期，1996，頁5-18。
經濟部國貿局編，＜加入GATT將促進中共的「改革開放」＞，中共對外經貿研究，總四一七期，1993，頁49-56。
經濟部國貿局編，＜中共的GATT「復關」與外貿體制改革＞，中共對外經貿研究，總四一七期，1993，頁57-67。
薛鳳旋主編，《中國海關法規及稅例》，香港大道文化有限公司出版，1984。
魏立志，＜中共匯率管理改革的現況＞，工業簡訊，笫二十五期，1995，頁64-68。
英文部分
Baer, W. and W. Maloney（1997）, “Neoliberalism and Income Distribution in Latin America.” World Development, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp.311-327.
Baldwin, R.E. and G.G. Cain（1997）, “Shift in U.S. Relative Wages: The Role of Trade, Technology and Factor Endowments.” NBER Working Paper No. 5934.
Beyer, H., P. Rojas, and R. Vergara（1999）, “Trade Liberalization and Wage Inequality.” Journal of Development Economics, Vol. 59, pp.103-123.
Bhagwati, J. and V.H. Dehejia（1994）, “Free Trade and Wages of the Unskilled—Is Marx Striking Again?” in Bhagwati, J. and M.H. Kosters eds., Trade and Wages, Washington, D.C.: The AEI Press, ch.2, pp.36-75.
Chen, B.L. and M. Hsu（1998）, “Time-series Wage Differential in Taiwan: The Role of International Trades.” mimeograph, IEAS, Taiwan.
Davis, Donald R.（1996）, ”Technology, Unemployment, and Relative Wages in a Global Economy.” NBER Working Paper No. 5636.
Deardorff, A.V. and D.S. Hakura（1994）, “Trade and Wages—What are the Questions?” in Bhagwati, J. and M.H. Kosters eds., Trade and Wages, Washington, D.C.: The AEI Press, ch3, pp.76-107.
Duryaea, S. and M. Szekely（2000）, “Labor Market in Latin America: A Look at the Supply-side.” Emerging Markets Review, Vol. 1, pp.199-228.
Finger, J.M. and M.E. Kreinin（1979）, “A Measure of ‘Export Similarity’ and Its Possible Uses.” The Economic Journal, Vol. 89, pp.905-912.
Francois, J.F. and D. Nelson（1998）, “Trade, Technology, and Wages: General Equilibrium Mechanics.” The Economic Journal, Vol. 108, pp.1483-1499,.
Francois, J.F., B.J. McDonald, and H. Nordstrom（1996）, “Liberalization and Capital Accumulation in the GTAP Model.” GTAP Technical Paper No. 7.
Ghose, A.K.（2000）, “Trade Liberalization, Employment and Global Inequality.” International Labor Review; Vol. 139, Iss. 3, pp.281-305.
Hertel, T.W. eds.（1997）, Global Trade Analysis-Modeling and Applications, Cambrige University Press.
Katz, L.F. and K.M. Murphy（1992）, “Changes in Relative Wages, 1963-1987: Supply and Demand Factors.” The Quarterly Journal of Economics, CVII, pp.35-79,.
Kosters, Marvin H.（1994）, “An Overview of Changing Wage Patterns in the Labor Market.” in Bhagwati, J. and M.H. Kosters eds., Trade and Wages, Washington, D.C.: The AEI Press, ch1, pp.1-35.
Leamer, Edward E.（1996）, “In Search of Stolper-Samuelson Effect on U.S. Wages.” Nber Working Paper No. 5427.
Leamer, E.E., H. Maul, S. Rodriguez, and P.K. Schott（1999）, “Does Natural Resource Abundance Increase Latin American Income Inequality?” Journal of Development Economics, Vol. 59, pp.3-43.
Lee, David S.（1999）, “Wage Inequality in the United States during the 1980s: Rising Dispersion or Falling Minimum Wage?” The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Vol. 114 (3), pp 977-1023.
Lovely, M.E. and J.D. Richardson（1998）, “Trade Flows and Wage Premiums: Does Who or What Matter?” NBER Working Paper No. 6668.
Lu, Hsin Chang（2000）, “International Competition and Wage Differentials— The Case of Taiwan.” Journal of International Trade and Economic Development, Vol. 9, pp.101-114.
Mcdougall, R., A. Elbehri, and T.P. Truong eds.（1998）, Global Trade, Assistance, and Protection: The GTAP 4 Data Base, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Purdue University.
Roland-Holst, D. and D. van der Mensbrugghe（2000）, “A New Empirical Perspective on Globalization and Wages.“ presented at the Third Annual Conference on Global Economic Analysis, Melbourne, Australia.
Spillimbergo, A., J.L. Londono, and M. Szekely（1999）, “Income Distribution, Factor Endowments, and Trade Openness.” Journal of Development Economics, Vol. 59, pp.77-101.
Wood, Adrian（1997）, “Openness and Wage Inequality in Developing Countries: The Latin American Challenge to East Asian Conventional Wisdom.” World Bank Economic Review, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp.33-58.
Wood, Adrian（1994）, North-South Trade, Employment and Inequality: Changing Fortunes in a Skill-Driven World, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Xu, L.C. and H. Zou（2000）, “Explaining the Changes of Income Distribution in China.” China Economic Review, Vol. 11, pp.149-179.