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Monetary Regimes And Endogenous Wage Contracts: Sweden 1908-1995

Author

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  • Fregert, Klas

    (Department of Economics, Lund University)

  • Jonung, Lars

    (Department of Economics, Stockholm School of Economics)

Abstract

We examine Gray´s theory of endogenous length of wage contracts and inflation indexation, using a uniquely long data set of blue-collar worker collective agreements in Sweden 1908-1995. Volatile monetary regimes, i. e. regimes with large macroeconomic uncertainty, are associated with short length and inflation indexed contracts. We also find inertia in changes in contract characteristics to changes in the regime. The findings support the Lucas critique, but cautions against simple divisions of time series in different regimes wherein agents' decision rules are assumed constant.

Suggested Citation

  • Fregert, Klas & Jonung, Lars, 1998. "Monetary Regimes And Endogenous Wage Contracts: Sweden 1908-1995," Working Papers 1998:3, Lund University, Department of Economics, revised 21 Apr 1999.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:lunewp:1998_003
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    2. repec:bla:econom:v:48:y:1981:i:190:p:155-71 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

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    2. Jesper Linde, 2002. "Monetary Policy Analysis in Backward-Looking Models," Annals of Economics and Statistics, GENES, issue 67-68, pages 155-182.
    3. Philip Du Caju & Erwan Gautier & Daphne Momferatu & Melanie Ward-Warmedinger, 2009. "Institutional Features of Wage Bargaining in 23 European Countries, the US and Japan," Ekonomia, Cyprus Economic Society and University of Cyprus, vol. 12(2), pages 57-108, Winter.
    4. Taylor, J.B., 2016. "The Staying Power of Staggered Wage and Price Setting Models in Macroeconomics," Handbook of Macroeconomics, in: J. B. Taylor & Harald Uhlig (ed.), Handbook of Macroeconomics, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 0, pages 2009-2042, Elsevier.
    5. Erwan Gautier & Sebastien Roux & Milena Suarez-Castillo, 2019. "Do Minimum Wages Make Wages More Rigid? Evidence from French Micro Data," Working papers 720, Banque de France.
    6. Jesper Linde, 2001. "Testing for the Lucas Critique: A Quantitative Investigation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(4), pages 986-1005, September.
    7. Maximilian Gödl & Isabel Gödl-Hanisch, 2024. "Wage Setting in Times of High and Low Inflation," CESifo Working Paper Series 11319, CESifo.
    8. Gödl, Maximilian & Gödl-Hanisch, Isabel, 2023. "Wage Setting in Times of High and Low Inflation," VfS Annual Conference 2023 (Regensburg): Growth and the "sociale Frage" 277641, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Monetary regime; contract length; wage indexation; Lucas critique;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E30 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • E65 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Studies of Particular Policy Episodes

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