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Collective bargaining, wage dispersion and the economic cycle: Spanish evidence

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  • Juan Francisco Canal Domínguez
  • César Rodríguez Gutiérrez

Abstract

This research analyses the effect of a ‘two-tier’ system of collective bargaining (firm bargaining and multi-employer bargaining levels) on wage dispersion in Spain. The effect of collective bargaining on the two main concepts that make up wages (the contractual or basic-bargained wage, and the wage cushion) are analysed during the last period of the upward cycle (2002–2006) and the beginning of the global financial crisis (2006–2010). The wage cushion is defined as the difference between the earned wage and the basic-bargained wage. The results show that workers covered by firm bargaining experienced greater wage dispersion than workers covered by multi-employer bargaining. On the other hand, wage dispersion for all workers decreased during the analysis period, mainly during the first stage of the current economic crisis, and particularly among workers covered by multi-employer bargaining. Both the decreasing relevance of the wage cushion in actual wage formation and its reduced dispersion make it possible to explain this wage compression.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan Francisco Canal Domínguez & César Rodríguez Gutiérrez, 2016. "Collective bargaining, wage dispersion and the economic cycle: Spanish evidence," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 27(4), pages 471-489, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecolab:v:27:y:2016:i:4:p:471-489
    DOI: 10.1177/1035304616675782
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ramos, Raul & Sanromá, Esteban & Simón, Hipólito, 2022. "Collective bargaining levels, employment and wage inequality in Spain," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 44(2), pages 375-395.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Collective bargaining; economic crisis; Spain; wage cushion; wage dispersion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects
    • J52 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Dispute Resolution: Strikes, Arbitration, and Mediation

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