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Rising Wage Inequality: Does the Return to Management Tell the Whole Story?

Author

Listed:
  • Anders Frederiksen

    (hoover Institution, Stanford University)

  • Odile Poulsen

    (University of East Anglia School of Economics)

Abstract

This paper argues that the increased wage inequality observed in recent years is driven by changes in management compensation. The analysis is conducted within the framework of a two-sector search model with heterogeneous employees and heterogenous jobs i.e. employees with different educational levels who work in either management or the non-management sector of a firm. Individuals employed in the non-management sector search for management jobs while employed. This model characterizes the labor market flows, the firm’s structure and the employee composition as well as the wage distribution in the firm. Using the personnel records from a large pharmaceutical company, the parameters of the model are estimated. This allows us to conclude that the increased wage inequality observed is due to amplified within and between group wage inequality which is driven by an increased gap between management and non-management wages.

Suggested Citation

  • Anders Frederiksen & Odile Poulsen, 2006. "Rising Wage Inequality: Does the Return to Management Tell the Whole Story?," Discussion Papers 05-007, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:sip:dpaper:05-007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    wage inequality; two-sector search model; skill-based technological change; personnel data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs
    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers
    • M5 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights

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