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The Relationship Between Efficiency Wages And Price Indexation In A Nominal Wage Contracting Model

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  • Shik Heo

    (Department of Economics, Chung-Ang University)

Abstract

This paper examines how a link between efficiency wages and price indexation can arise in a simple nominal wage contracting model. We show that, the more elastic the worker¡¯s effort is with respect to real wages, the looser the optimal linkage of nominal wages is to the price level. This is simply because, as the worker¡¯s effort becomes more sensitive to real wages, the output-stabilizing indexing scheme has to make nominal wages less dependent on the price level, thereby delegating firms more flexibility for adjusting the output level. As long as efficiency wages as an incentive device work well in the economy, our result may help explain the recent decline in the share of U.S. union contracts adjusting to a cost of living index.

Suggested Citation

  • Shik Heo, 2003. "The Relationship Between Efficiency Wages And Price Indexation In A Nominal Wage Contracting Model," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 28(2), pages 117-128, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:jed:journl:v:28:y:2003:i:2:p:117-128
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Josheski, Dushko & Bardarova, Snezana, 2013. "Causal relationship between wages and prices in R. Macedonia: VECM analysis," MPRA Paper 48179, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Efficiency Wages; Wage Indexation; Nominal Wage Contracting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J33 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods
    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts

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