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Establishment Size and the Dispersion of Wages: Evidence from European Countries

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Author Info
Thierry Lallemand () (Université Libre de Bruxelles, Department of Applied Economics (DULBEA, Brussels) and Centre de Comptabilité, Planning et Contrôle, Brussels)
François Rycx () (DULBEA, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Department of Applied Economics (DULBEA, Brussels), and Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA, Bonn).)

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Abstract

This paper investigates how the distribution of wages differs between small and large establishments in four European countries. Findings show that within-establishment wage dispersion rises with size because large employers have a more diverse workforce. They also suggest that screening and monitoring costs imply a lower sensitivity of wages to ability in larger establishments. Smaller establishments are found to rely more on incentive-based pay mechanisms, particularly in countries with a low trade union coverage rate. Further results indicate that between-establishment wage dispersion decreases with employer size because smaller establishments are technologically more diversified and therefore exhibit greater diversity in average workforce skills.

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Paper provided by Université libre de Bruxelles, Department of Applied Economics (DULBEA) in its series Working Papers DULBEA with number 05-18.RS.

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Length: 31 pages
Date of creation: Oct 2005
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Handle: RePEc:dul:wpaper:05-18rs

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Related research
Keywords: Wage structure establishment size decomposition of wages Europe.

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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References listed on IDEAS
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Davis, Steven J. & Henrekson, Magnus, 2007. "Economic Perfomance and Work Activity in Sweden after the Crisis of the Early 1990s," Working Paper Series 687, Research Institute of Industrial Economics. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. Oscar Bernal, 2006. "Do interactions between political authorities and central banks influence FX interventions? Evidence from Japan," Working Papers DULBEA 06-03.RS, Université libre de Bruxelles, Department of Applied Economics (DULBEA). [Downloadable!]
  3. Pierre-Guillaume Méon & Laurent Weill, 2006. "Does financial intermediation matter for macroeconomic efficiency?," Working Papers DULBEA 06-13.RS, Université libre de Bruxelles, Department of Applied Economics (DULBEA). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  4. Robert Plasman & François Rycx & Ilan Tojerow, 2007. "Wage Differentials in Belgium: The Role of Worker and Employer Characteristics," Working Papers DULBEA 07-12.RS, Université libre de Bruxelles, Department of Applied Economics (DULBEA). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  5. Jérôme de Henau & Leila Maron & Danièle Meulders, 2007. "Travail et Maternité en Europe, COnditions de Travail et Politiques Publiques," Working Papers DULBEA 07-14.RS, Université libre de Bruxelles, Department of Applied Economics (DULBEA). [Downloadable!]
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