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Beyond the spike at zero: Understanding nominal wage rigidity through empirical and model-based approaches

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  • Jo, Yoon Joo

Abstract

I examine the cyclical properties of nominal wage change distributions across time and US states using nationally representative household surveys from 1979 to 2018. The novel finding is that the share of workers with no wage changes, which accounts for the large spike at zero in the nominal wage change distribution, is more countercyclical than the share of workers with wage cuts. I analyze heterogeneous agent models with six alternative wage-setting schemes and conclude that the model with downward nominal wage rigidity is the most consistent with empirical findings regarding the shape and cyclicality of wage change distributions.

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  • Jo, Yoon Joo, 2025. "Beyond the spike at zero: Understanding nominal wage rigidity through empirical and model-based approaches," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:inecon:v:157:y:2025:i:c:s002219962500073x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2025.104117
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    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General

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