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Economic Crisis and Wage Divergence: Empirical Evidence from Romania

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  • Gheorghe Zaman
  • Zizi Goschin

Abstract

This paper addresses the question of convergence in real wages across Romanian counties, while putting a spotlight on the recent economic crisis, which has hit hard the entire economy. Following the main methodological trends in the literature, convergence methods were applied using the traditional cross-section approach. The empirical analysis covering a 21-year period provided clear evidence in favour of ß-convergence, but indicated ?-divergence (Galton's fallacy). Wages' dispersion seems to rise during the economic crises and persists in the first stage of recovery as well. This finding provides support to Barro and Sala-i-Martin's theory on the temporary divergence effect induced by economic shocks.

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  • Gheorghe Zaman & Zizi Goschin, 2014. "Economic Crisis and Wage Divergence: Empirical Evidence from Romania," Prague Economic Papers, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2014(4), pages 493-513.
    • Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:2014:y:2014:i:4:id:495:p:493-513
    DOI: 10.18267/j.pep.495
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    Cited by:

    1. Mihail Busu & Adina Gyorgy, 2016. "Real Convergence, Steps from Adherence to Integration," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 18(42), pages 303-303, May.
    2. Neagu Olimpia, 2020. "Real Wage Convergence in Romania: Empirical Evidence Based on Club Converging," Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, Sciendo, vol. 30(3), pages 108-117, September.
    3. Robert Buckley & Ashna Mathema, 2018. "Housing privatization in Romania : An Anti†commons tragedy?," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 26(1), pages 127-145, January.
    4. Zizi GOSCHIN, 2017. "Exploring regional economic convergence in Romania. A spatial modeling approach," Eastern Journal of European Studies, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 8, pages 127-146, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic crisis; sigma and beta convergence; real wage; Romania;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • R15 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Econometric and Input-Output Models; Other Methods

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