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Real wage cyclicality and the Great Depression: evidence from British engineering and metal working firms

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  • Hart, Robert A
  • Roberts, J Elizabeth

Abstract

Based on firm‐level payroll data from around 2000 member firms of the British Engineering Employers' Federation we examine the behavior of real hourly earnings over the 1927‐1937 cycle that contained the Great Depression. The pay statistics are based on adult male blue‐collar workers within engineering and metal working firms. They allow us to distinguish between pieceworkers and timeworkers and they are delineated by 14 occupations and 51 travel‐to‐work geographical engineering districts. We measure the cycle using national unemployment rates as well as rates that match our district breakdowns. Differences are found in the real hourly earnings cyclicality of pieceworkers and timeworkers. We attempt to relate our findings to those of modern micro panel data studies of real wage cyclicality. We offer some insight into why the estimates of real hourly pay display less procyclicality during the 1920s and 1930s than in studies based on more recent data.

Suggested Citation

  • Hart, Robert A & Roberts, J Elizabeth, 2011. "Real wage cyclicality and the Great Depression: evidence from British engineering and metal working firms," Stirling Economics Discussion Papers 2011-09, University of Stirling, Division of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:stl:stledp:2011-09
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    1. Hart, Robert A. & Roberts, J. Elizabeth, 2013. "Industrial Composition, Methods of Compensation and Real Earnings in the Great Depression," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 226, pages 17-29, November.
    2. Hart, Robert A & Roberts, J Elizabeth, 2013. "The rise and fall of piecework-timework wage differentials: market volatility, labor heterogeneity, and output pricing," Stirling Economics Discussion Papers 2013-12, University of Stirling, Division of Economics.
    3. Hart, Robert A. & Roberts, J. Elizabeth, 2025. "The Rises and Falls of Piecework-Timework Pay Differentials. UK Engineering and Metal Working Industries, 1926–1965," IZA Discussion Papers 17959, IZA Network @ LISER.
    4. Hart, Robert A., 2019. "Labor Productivity during the Great Depression in UK Manufacturing," IZA Discussion Papers 12379, IZA Network @ LISER.

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