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Non-base wage components as a source of wage adaptability to shocks: evidence from European firms, 2010–2013

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  • Babecký, Jan
  • Berson, Clémence
  • Fadejeva, Ludmila
  • Lamo, Ana
  • Marotzke, Petra
  • Martins, Fernando
  • Strzelecki, Pawel

Abstract

This paper provides evidence on the role of non-base wage components as a channel for firms to adjust labour costs in the event of adverse shocks. It uses data from a firm-level survey for 25 European countries that covers the period 2010–2013. We find that firms subject to nominal wage rigidities, which prevent them from adjusting base wages, are more likely to cut non-base wage components in order to adjust labour costs when needed. Firms thus use non-base wage components as a buffer to overcome base wage rigidity. We further show that while nonbase wage components exhibit some degree of downward rigidity, they do so to a lesser extent than base wages. JEL Classification: J30, J32, C81, P5

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  • Babecký, Jan & Berson, Clémence & Fadejeva, Ludmila & Lamo, Ana & Marotzke, Petra & Martins, Fernando & Strzelecki, Pawel, 2018. "Non-base wage components as a source of wage adaptability to shocks: evidence from European firms, 2010–2013," Working Paper Series 2158, European Central Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:20182158
    Note: 337346
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    Cited by:

    1. Marotzke Petra & Anderton Robert & Bairrao Ana & Berson Clémence & Tóth Peter, 2020. "Asymmetric wage adjustment and employment in European firms," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 20(2), pages 1-25, June.
    2. Adamopoulou, Effrosyni & Villanueva, Ernesto, 2020. "Wage Determination and the Bite of Collective Contracts in Italy and Spain: Evidence from the Metalworking Industry," IZA Discussion Papers 13542, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Caloia, Francesco G. & Parlevliet, Jante & Mastrogiacomo, Mauro, 2023. "Staggered wages, unanticipated shocks and firms’ adjustments," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    4. Francesco Caloia & Jante Parlevliet & Mauro Mastrogiacomo, 2021. "Staggered wages, unanticipated shocks and firms’ adjustments," Working Papers 711, DNB.
    5. Adamopoulou, Effrosyni & Villanueva, Ernesto, 2022. "Wage determination and the bite of collective contracts in Italy and Spain," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    6. Katerina Arnostova & Tomas Adam & Oxana Babecka Kucharcukova & Jan Babecky & Vojtech Belling & Sona Benecka & Jan Bruha & Martin Gurtler & Tibor Hledik & Tomas Holub & Eva Hromadkova & Lubos Komarek &, 2017. "Analyses of the Czech Republic's Current Economic Alignment with the Euro Area 2017," Occasional Publications - Edited Volumes, Czech National Bank, number as17 edited by Katerina Arnostova & Lucie Matejkova, January.
    7. Jan Babecky & Kamil Galuscak & Diana Zigraiova, 2017. "Wage Dynamics and Financial Performance: Evidence from Czech Firms," Working Papers 2017/14, Czech National Bank.
    8. Jakub Grossmann, 2021. "The Effects of Minimum Wage Increases in the Czech Republic," Working Papers 2021/2, Czech National Bank.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    bonuses; downward nominal wage rigidity; European Union; firm survey;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions
    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • P5 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems

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