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Nominal wage rigidity in Europe: estimates and institutional causes

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  • Orietta DESSY

Abstract

In this paper we construct and compare different measures of nominal wage rigidity for the EU countries using the 1994-2000 waves of the European Community Household Panel. The observed distributions of nominal wage changes show a relevant percentage of nominal wage cuts and freezes across countries. When measurement error is taken into account in an econometric model of wage changes appropriately estimated, it explains almost the totality of wage cuts observed. Therefore the extent of nominal wage rigidity is quite high in Europe. Institutional causes of wage rigidity are investigated, finding an ''hump-shaped'' relationship between nominal wage flexibility and both employment protection legislation and coordination. On the other hand, an ''u-shaped'' impact of union coverage on measures of downward wage rigidity is found

Suggested Citation

  • Orietta DESSY, 2005. "Nominal wage rigidity in Europe: estimates and institutional causes," Departmental Working Papers 2005-09, Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods at Università degli Studi di Milano.
    • Handle: RePEc:mil:wpdepa:2005-09
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Vistesen, Claus, 2010. "Quantifying and Correcting Eurozone Imbalances Fighting the Debt Snowball," MPRA Paper 22943, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Barno Blaes, 2008. "Ausmaß und reale Konsequenzen nach unten starrer Nominallöhne," Working Papers 048, Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics (BGPE).
    3. Fuss, Catherine & Wintr, Ladislav & Du Caju, Philip, 2007. "Downward wage rigidity for different workers and firms: an evaluation for Belgium using the IWFP procedure," Working Paper Series 840, European Central Bank.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects

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