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Solow and Heterogeneous Labor: A Neoclassical Explanation of Wage Inequality

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Author Info
Meckl, Juergen () (University of Konstanz and IZA Bonn)
Zink, Stefan (University of Konstanz)
Abstract

The paper analyzes the effect of human-capital investments of heterogeneous individuals on the dynamics of the wage structure within a neoclassical growth model. The accumulation of physical capital changes relative factor prices and thus incentives to acquire skills, thereby altering the composition of the labor force. Without relying on exogenous shocks, our framework generates dynamics that resembles several important observations on wage inequality (e.g., the non-monotone evolution of the skill premium). Additional incorporation of wage rigidities emphasizes the trade off between residual wage inequality and employment opportunities for unskilled labor that is consistent with country-specific evidence.

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Paper provided by Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in its series IZA Discussion Papers with number 668.

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Length: 30 pages
Date of creation: Dec 2002
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Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp668

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Related research
Keywords: wage inequality human capital investment transitional adjustment dynamics skill-specific unemployment

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
O15 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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  9. Katz, Lawrence F. & Autor, David H., 1999. "Changes in the wage structure and earnings inequality," Handbook of Labor Economics, in: O. Ashenfelter & D. Card (ed.), Handbook of Labor Economics, edition 1, volume 3, chapter 26, pages 1463-1555 Elsevier. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  11. James Albrecht & Susan Vroman, 2002. "A Matching Model with Endogenous Skill Requirements," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 43(1), pages 283-305, February. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  14. Taber, Christopher R, 2001. "The Rising College Premium in the Eighties: Return to College or Return to Unobserved Ability?," Review of Economic Studies, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 68(3), pages 665-91, July.
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