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Insider Power in Wage Determination

Author

Listed:
  • David G. Blanchflower
  • Andrew J. Oswald
  • Mario D. Garrett

Abstract

The paper argues that wage determination is best seen as a kind of rent sharing in which workers' bargaining power is influenced by conditions in the external labour market. It uses British establishment data from 1984 to show that pay depends upon a blend of insider pressure (including the employer's financial performance and oligopolistic position) and outsider pressure (including external wages and unemployment). Lester's feasible 'range' of wages appears typically to be between 8% and 22% of pay. Estimates of the unemployment elasticity of the wage lie in a narrow band around -0.1.

Suggested Citation

  • David G. Blanchflower & Andrew J. Oswald & Mario D. Garrett, 1989. "Insider Power in Wage Determination," NBER Working Papers 3179, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:3179
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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