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Fixed-Wage Contracts and Monetary Non-neutrality

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Björklund
  • Mikael Carlsson
  • Oskar Nordström Skans

Abstract

We study the importance of wage rigidities for the monetary policy transmission mechanism. Using uniquely rich micro data on Swedish wage negotiations, we isolate periods when the labor market is covered by fixed-wage contracts. Importantly, negotiations are coordinated in time but their seasonal patterns are far from deterministic. Using a two-regime VAR model, we document that monetary policy shocks have a larger impact on production during fixed-wage episodes as compared to the average response. The results do not seem to be driven by the periodic structure, nor the seasonality, of the renegotiation episodes.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Björklund & Mikael Carlsson & Oskar Nordström Skans, 2019. "Fixed-Wage Contracts and Monetary Non-neutrality," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 11(2), pages 171-192, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejmac:v:11:y:2019:i:2:p:171-92
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/mac.20160213
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    Cited by:

    1. Effrosyni Adamopoulou & Ernesto Villanueva, 2020. "Wage Determination and the Bite of Collective Contracts in Italy and Spain: Evidence From the Metalworking Industry," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2020_176, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    2. Carlsson, Mikael, 2025. "Does economic policy matter? A note on the narrative approach and exact inference," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    3. Ho, Cheuk Yin, 2025. "Do sticky prices or sticky wages matter for monetary non-neutrality?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    4. Merkl, Christian & Stüber, Heiko, 2024. "Wage and employment cyclicalities at the establishment level," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    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. Hahn, Volker & Schürle, Annika, 2025. "How does inflation affect different age groups?," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    7. Adamopoulou, Effrosyni & Díez-Catalán, Luis & Villanueva, Ernesto, 2025. "Staggered contracts and unemployment during recessions," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    8. Caloia, Francesco G. & Parlevliet, Jante & Mastrogiacomo, Mauro, 2023. "Staggered wages, unanticipated shocks and firms’ adjustments," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    9. Carreño, José Gabo & Uras, Burak, 2024. "Macro welfare effects of flexible labor contracts," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    10. Laséen, Stefan, 2020. "Monetary Policy Surprises, Central Bank Information Shocks, and Economic Activity in a Small Open Economy," Working Paper Series 396, Sveriges Riksbank (Central Bank of Sweden).
    11. Corbo, Vesna & Strid, Ingvar, 2020. "MAJA: A two-region DSGE model for Sweden and its main trading partners," Working Paper Series 391, Sveriges Riksbank (Central Bank of Sweden).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E23 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Production
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts

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