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New insights on earnings trends across skill groups and industries in West Germany

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  • Bernd Fitzenberger
  • Claudia Kurz

Abstract

This paper provides an empirical analysis of the structure of earnings in West Germany across skill groups and industries. Our analysis is based on data from the German Socioeconomic Panel for the period 1984 to 1994. We estimate quantile regressions, both for the entire sample period and for each year separately, in order to obtain a finer picture of the earnings structure compared to conventional least squares methods. For robust standard error estimation, this study uses a block bootstrap procedure taking account of heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation in the error term. We also suggest a simple procedure to obtain a consistent estimate of inter-industry earnings variability. Our main findings are: first, pooled estimation comprising a uniform time trend is not rejected by the data, and second, the effects of human capital variables and industry dummies on earnings differ considerably across quantiles. Copyright Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003

Suggested Citation

  • Bernd Fitzenberger & Claudia Kurz, 2003. "New insights on earnings trends across skill groups and industries in West Germany," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 28(3), pages 479-514, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:28:y:2003:i:3:p:479-514
    DOI: 10.1007/s001810200142
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Key words: Earnings Structure across Skill Groups and Industries; Quantile Regression; Block Bootstrap; JEL classification: J31; C23;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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