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Downward wage rigidity and asymmetric effects of monetary policy

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  • Jackson, Laura E.
  • Kurt, Ezgi

Abstract

This paper provides industry-level evidence on the presence of downward real wage rigidity and asymmetric effects of monetary policy in the US labor market. Focusing on industry-level data from 1975q1 to 2020q4, we find strong heterogeneity in the trade-off between wage rigidity and employment. Specifically, we show that service-sector industries show downward-flexible wages and muted employment losses in response to monetary contractions. On the other hand, we find that a trade-off between wage rigidity and employment exists only weakly in the manufacturing sector. We examine this in the context of unionization and trade integration policies of recent decades and show that factors such as low unionization or high exposure to import competition weakens the wage-employment link. Among these, high exposure to trade seems to be the more important channel for manufacturing industries.

Suggested Citation

  • Jackson, Laura E. & Kurt, Ezgi, 2025. "Downward wage rigidity and asymmetric effects of monetary policy," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jmacro:v:83:y:2025:i:c:s0164070424000594
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jmacro.2024.103645
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Monetary policy; Asymmetric effects; Downward wage rigidity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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