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Labor market frictions and the international propagation mechanism

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  • Patureau, Lise

Abstract

The paper studies the role of labor market frictions in accounting for international business cycle comovement. To this aim, we embed labor market search and matching frictions in a two-country New Keynesian model. We show that labor market frictions amplify the international propagation of supply and demand shocks. In terms of cyclical properties then, they raise the cross-country output correlation. Adding labor market search in the New Keynesian model thus improves its ability to account for the business cycle comovement observed in G7 countries in the recent decades. Nominal wage rigidity substantially contributes to this result. Labor market institutions also play a role. Yet, their impact is not unequivocal depending on the institution considered. Business cycle synchronization is thus found to increase with the generosity of the unemployment benefits system, whereas it decreases with the strictness of employment protection.

Suggested Citation

  • Patureau, Lise, 2012. "Labor market frictions and the international propagation mechanism," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 199-222.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jmacro:v:34:y:2012:i:1:p:199-222
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jmacro.2011.09.006
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    Cited by:

    1. Fries, Claudia, 2015. "Spillover effects of labour market reforms in a three-country world," ZEW Discussion Papers 15-040, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    2. Raquel Fonseca & Lise Patureau & Thepthida Sopraseuth, 2010. "Business Cycle Comovement and Labor Market Institutions: An Empirical Investigation," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(5), pages 865-881, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International business cycles; Labor market search and matching; Labor market institutions; Wage bargaining; International transmission of shocks;
    All these keywords.

    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
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics
    • F42 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - International Policy Coordination and Transmission

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