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Wage-setting institutions and corporate governance

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  • Dimick, Matthew
  • Rao, Neel

Abstract

We present a model in which wage-setting structures explain cross-country variation in corporate governance. The model predicts a nonmonotonic relationship between the level of centralization in wage-bargaining institutions and the levels of firm ownership concentration and investor protection legislation. Low and high degrees of centralization yield less concentrated ownership and more investor protection than intermediate degrees. Like recent research, this paper highlights labor as a key constituent in shaping corporate governance. However, our theory can resolve an important puzzle this research confronts, namely, why Scandinavian countries with higher than average labor strength also have higher than average investor protection legislation.

Suggested Citation

  • Dimick, Matthew & Rao, Neel, 2016. "Wage-setting institutions and corporate governance," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(4), pages 854-883.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcecon:v:44:y:2016:i:4:p:854-883
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2016.01.004
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate governance; Bargaining centralization; Wage-setting institutions; Legal origin; Labor movements;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • K22 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Business and Securities Law
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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