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Bonus Question: Does Flexible Incentive Pay Dampen Unemployment Dynamics?

Author

Listed:
  • Meghana Gaur

    (Princeton University)

  • John Grigsby

    (Princeton University)

  • Jonathon

    (London School of Economics (LSE)
    Centre for Macroeconomics (CFM))

  • Abdoulaye Ndiaye

    (NYU Stern)

Abstract

We introduce dynamic incentive contracts into a model of unemployment dynamics and present three results. First, wage cyclicality from incentives does not dampen unemployment dynamics: the response of unemployment to shocks is first-order equivalent in an economy with flexible incentive pay and without bargaining, vis-a-vis an economy with rigid wages. Second, wage cyclicality from bargaining dampens unemployment dynamics through the standard mechanism. Third, our calibrated model suggests 46% of wage cyclicality in the data arises from incentives. A standard model without incentives calibrated to weakly procyclical wages, matches unemployment dynamics in our incentive pay model calibrated to strongly procyclical wages.

Suggested Citation

  • Meghana Gaur & John Grigsby & Jonathon & Abdoulaye Ndiaye, 2023. "Bonus Question: Does Flexible Incentive Pay Dampen Unemployment Dynamics?," Discussion Papers 2321, Centre for Macroeconomics (CFM).
    • Handle: RePEc:cfm:wpaper:2321
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    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
    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts

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