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The labor market and corporate structure

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  • Acemoglu, Daron
  • F. Newman, Andrew

Abstract

This paper analyses the impact of labour demand and labour market regulations on the corporate structure of fims. It finds that higher wages are associated with lower monitoring, irrespective of whether these high wages are caused by labour market regulations, unions or higher labour demand. These comparative static results are in line with the broad trends in the data. The paper also finds that the organization of firms has important macroeconomic implications. In particular, monitoring is a type of ‘rent-seeking’ activity and the decentralized equilibrium spends excessive resources on monitoring. Labour market regulations that reduce monitoring by pushing wages up may increase net output or reduce it only by a small amount even though they reduce employment.
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Suggested Citation

  • Acemoglu, Daron & F. Newman, Andrew, 2002. "The labor market and corporate structure," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(10), pages 1733-1756, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:46:y:2002:i:10:p:1733-1756
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production

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