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Wage Adjustment Practices and the Link between Price and Wages: Survey Evidence from Colombian Firms

Author

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  • Ana Maria Iregui B.
  • Ligia Alba Melo B.
  • María Teresa Ramírez G.

Abstract

Resumen: Este artículo utiliza una encuesta a 1.305 firmas para evaluar las prácticas de ajustes salariales de las empresas en el mercado laboral colombiano. Específicamente, se analiza la frecuencia de los incrementos salariales y el vínculo entre los cambios de precios y salarios. Los resultados muestran que los salarios se ajustan anualmente, que los aumentos se concentran alrededor de la inflación observada y que ninguna empresa recortó los salarios. Además, los principales determinantes de dichos ajustes son factores asociados con el desempeno tanto de empresas como de trabajadores. La relación entre los cambios en salarios y precios es más fuerte en sectores donde los costos laborales representan una mayor proporción de los costos totales y en sectores con alta productividad laboral.Abstract: This paper explores firms´ wage adjustment practices in the Colombian formal labor market; specifically, the timing and frequency of wage increases, as well as the link between wage and price changes. We use a survey of 1,305 firms belonging to all economic sectors. The results show that most firms adjust base wages annually, increases were concentrated around observed inflation and none of the firms cut wages. Moreover, factors associated with the performance of firms and workers alike are the main determinants of wage adjustments. The link between wages and price changes is stronger in sectors where labor costs represent a higher share of total costs and in firms operating in sectors with higher labor productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Maria Iregui B. & Ligia Alba Melo B. & María Teresa Ramírez G., 2012. "Wage Adjustment Practices and the Link between Price and Wages: Survey Evidence from Colombian Firms," Revista Lecturas de Economía, Universidad de Antioquia, CIE.
    • Handle: RePEc:col:000174:010147
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    Cited by:

    1. José Pulido & Hernando Vargas-Herrera & Juan J. Ospina-Tejeiro, 2023. "The labor market in Colombia: Structural features and the role of wages in the post-pandemic inflationary surge," Borradores de Economia 1232, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    2. Sonia A. Agudelo & Hector Sala, 2016. "Wage setting in the Colombian manufacturing industry," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 24(1), pages 99-134, January.
    3. Fernando Borraz & Gerardo Licandro & Daniela Sola, 2020. "Wage and price setting: new evidence from Uruguayan firms," Journal of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(1), pages 560-582, January.
    4. Central Bank of Colombia, 2023. "The labour market in Colombia: trends, cyclical patterns and the role of wages in the recent inflationary surge," BIS Papers chapters, in: Bank for International Settlements (ed.), Inflation and labour markets, volume 127, pages 103-134, Bank for International Settlements.
    5. Gomez Ospina, Monica A., 2023. "Optimal monetary policy in developing countries: The role of informality," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    6. Agudelo, Sonia A. & Sala, Hector, 2017. "Wage Rigidities in Colombia: Measurement, Causes, and Policy Implications," IZA Discussion Papers 10669, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    incrementos salariales; mercado laboral; encuestas; modelos logit; Colombia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General
    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities

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