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The U.S. Labor Income Share And Automation Shocks

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  • Nikolaos Charalampidis

Abstract

The causes and consequences of the 1964–2016 swings in the U.S. labor income share/labor share (LS) are parsed through the lens of a structural model estimated on aggregate and LS series jointly. Where conventional models fall short, the present model yields a counter‐cyclical LS unconditionally and in response to demand and monetary policy shocks, as well as a small wage pro‐cyclicality, via moderate wage indexation. Shifts in automation, workers' market power, investment efficiency, and the relative price of investment account for 54%, 24%, 6%, and 4% of LS fluctuations, respectively. Automation shocks explain the lion's share of the post‐2007 cyclical LS tumble and 11% of output cycles, and generate a distinctive counter‐cyclical labor response. (JEL E32, E25, E52)

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  • Nikolaos Charalampidis, 2020. "The U.S. Labor Income Share And Automation Shocks," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 58(1), pages 294-318, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:58:y:2020:i:1:p:294-318
    DOI: 10.1111/ecin.12829
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    Cited by:

    1. Charalampidis, Nikolaos, 2022. "Top income shares, inequality, and business cycles: United States, 1957–2016," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    2. Pablo Casas & José L. Torres, 2023. "Automation, automatic capital returns, and the functional income distribution," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(1), pages 113-135, January.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E25 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Aggregate Factor Income Distribution
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy

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