Lohnstarrheit / Wage Rigidity
In Krisenzeiten greifen Arbeitgeberinnen und Arbeitgeber eher auf Entlassungen als auf das Mittel der Nominallohnsenkung zurück. Dies kann am Einfluss der Gewerkschaften, an unflexiblen Lohnsystemen der Firmen oder auch an Fairnessnormen liegen. Welche Auswirkungen haben nach unten starre Löhne auf dem Arbeitsmarkt? Führen sie in Verbindung mit einer niedrigen Inflationsrate zu höherer Arbeitslosigkeit? Diese IAB-Infoplattform präsentiert wissenschaftliche Literatur zum Thema Abwärtslohnrigidität.
In times of crisis, employers tend to resort to dismissals instead of the medium of reduction in nominal wages. This may be due to the influence of the trade unions, the inflexibility of company wage systems, or possibly also norms of fairness. What effect do downwardly rigid wages have on the labour market? Do they lead - in conjunction with a lower inflation rate - to higher unemployment? This IAB info platform presents scientific literature on the topic of downward wage rigidity.
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Literaturhinweis
Wage rigidities in Western Germany?: microeconometric evidence from the 1990s (2001)
Zitatform
Puhani, Patrick A. (2001): Wage rigidities in Western Germany? Microeconometric evidence from the 1990s. (ZEW discussion paper 2001-36), Mannheim, 55 S.
Abstract
"This paper investigates whether and in what sense the west German wage structure has been 'rigid' in the 1990s. To test the hypothesis that a rigid wage structure has been responsible for rising low-skilled unemployment, I propose a methodology which makes less restrictive identifying assumptions than some previous related work. I find that the relative stability of educational wage premia was justified by market forces. However, relative wages did not respond to negative net demand shocks for young workers, as well as white-collar workers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku)
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auch erschienen als: IZA discussion paper, 334 -
Literaturhinweis
The extent and consequences of downward nominal wage rigidity (2000)
Zitatform
Altonji, Joseph G. & Paul J. Devereux (2000): The extent and consequences of downward nominal wage rigidity. In: (2000): Worker well-being (Research in Labor Economics, 19), S. 383-431. DOI:10.1016/S0147-9121(00)19015-6
Abstract
"The structure of the work is as follows: In Section II, we examine the frequency. of nominal wage cuts in a large financial corporation. In Section III we describe our model of nominal wage changes . and discuss how we estimate it. In Section IV, we describe the data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics that we use in this study. In Section V, we present the results of the model and the implications ,of the model for wage cuts, wage freezes, wage levels, and wage: changes. In Section VI, we test whether downward rigidity affects the probability of quits, layoffs, and promotions, and we look at the effects of nominal rigidities on. the wage structure. Section VII concludes." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Regional wage rigidity: the European Union and United States compared (2000)
Zitatform
Baddeley, Michelle, Ron Martin & Peter Tyler (2000): Regional wage rigidity. The European Union and United States compared. In: Journal of regional science, Jg. 40, H. 1, S. 115-142.
Abstract
"In recent years it has been pointed out that regional unemployment disparities are much more entrenched across member states of the European Union (E.U.) than they are in the U.S.A 'conventional wisdom' has emerged to the effect that this difference is due in part to the greater degree of wage rigidity E.U. regions. In this paper we explore this issue by estimating short run and long run real wage (in)flexibility for the regions in five core E.U. countries (Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands) and for the U.S. states for the period 1976-1994. We find that real wage (in)flexibility varies across regions both in the E.U. and the U.S., but that, on average, regional wages are no less flexible in E.U. core regions than in U.S. states. The paper also examines some of the possible correlates of regional variations in wage (in)flexibility." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Why wages don't fall during a recession (1999)
Bewley, Truman F.;Zitatform
Bewley, Truman F. (1999): Why wages don't fall during a recession. Cambridge u.a.: Harvard University Press, 527 S.
Abstract
"A deep question in economics is why wages and salaries don't fall during recessions. This is not true of other prices, which adjust relatively quickly to reflect changes in demand and supply. Although economists have posited many theories to account for wage rigidity, none is satisfactory. Eschewing 'top-down' theorizing, the author explored the puzzle by interviewing - during the recession of the early 1990s - over three hundred business executives and labor leaders as well as professional recruiters and advisors to the unemployed. By taking this approach, gaining the confidence of his interlocutors and asking them detailed questions in a nonstructured way, he was able to uncover empirically the circumstances that give rise to wage rigidity. He found that the executives were averse to cutting wages of either current employees or new hires, even during the economic downturn when demand for their products fell sharply. They believed that cutting wages would hurt morale, which they felt was critical in gaining the cooperation of their employees and in convincing them to internalize the managers' objectives for the company. The author's findings contradict most theories of wage rigidity and provide fascinating insights into the problems businesses face that prevent labor markets from clearing." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Wage rigidity in a competitive incomplete contract market (1999)
Zitatform
Fehr, Ernst & Armin Falk (1999): Wage rigidity in a competitive incomplete contract market. In: Journal of Political Economy, Jg. 107, H. 1, S. 106-134.
Abstract
Die autoren untersuchen theoretisch und mit Hilfe eines Experiments, warum Löhne auch bei Arbeitslosigkeit nach unten nicht rigide sind bzw. warum Arbeitgeber auf das Unterbieten von bestehenden Löhnen nicht eingehen. Die Ursachen dafür liegen zum einen in unvollkommenen Arbeitsverträgen, zum anderen im positiven Zusammenhang zwischen Lohnhöhe und Arbeitsanstrengung. (IAB)
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Literaturhinweis
Structural unemployment and real wage rigidity in Germany (1999)
Paqué, Karl-Heinz;Zitatform
Paqué, Karl-Heinz (1999): Structural unemployment and real wage rigidity in Germany. (Kieler Studien 301), Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 387 S.
Abstract
Der Autor untersucht für den Zeitraum von 1950 bis 1990 den Zusammenhang zwischen struktureller Arbeitslosigkeit, sektoralem Strukturwandel und intersektoraler Lohnrigidität. (IAB)
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Literaturhinweis
The variation in wage rigidity by occupation and union status in the US (1997)
Campbell, Carl M.;Zitatform
Campbell, Carl M. (1997): The variation in wage rigidity by occupation and union status in the US. In: Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Jg. 59, H. 1, S. 133-147. DOI:10.1111/1468-0084.00053
Abstract
"This study estimates wage equations with data disaggregated by occupation and union status, and it derives two measures of wage rigidity for each group of workers: the sensitivity of wages to unemployment and the speed with which wages respond to price inflation. The sensitivity of wages to an aggregate measure of unemployment was found to depend negatively on an occupation's skill level. In addition, union wages were more sensitive to unemployment than non-union wages and responded less rapidly to price inflation." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Evidence of nominal wage stickiness from microdata (1997)
Zitatform
Kahn, Shulamit (1997): Evidence of nominal wage stickiness from microdata. In: The American economic review, Jg. 87, H. 5, S. 993-1008.
Abstract
"This work is based on the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) covering the period 1970 through 1988. The evidence presented here indicates substantial stickiness of nominal wages for wage earners remaining with the same employer over the year. This stickiness is of both types: sparse negative nominal wage changes which affect an estimated 9.4 percent of wage earners, and menu costs of small wage changes affecting a smaller 1.04 to 1.66 percent of wage earners. Practically all of the spike at nominal zero wage change for wage earners can be accounted for by the 'pile-up' from otherwise negative or small positive observations. This pattern of wage stickiness implies clear money illusion in its focus on nominal rather than real values." (Text excerpt, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
The macroeconomics of low inflation (1996)
Zitatform
Akerlof, George A., William T. Dickens, George L. Perry, Robert J Gordon & N. Gregory Mankiw (1996): The macroeconomics of low inflation. In: Brookings Papers on Economic Activity H. 1, S. 1-76. DOI:10.2307/2534646
Abstract
"We demonstrate the prevalence of downward wage rigidity in the U.S. economy and model its significance for the economy's performance. Downward rigidity interferes with the ability of some firms to make adjustments in real wages, leading to inefficient reductions in employment. With trend growth in productivity near recent rates, as the rate of inflation approaches zero, the number of firms constrained and the degree of their constraints increase sharply, as does this inefficiency and shortfall in employment. The difference in the sustainable rate of unemployment between operating with a steady 3 percent inflation rate and a steady zero percent inflation rate is estimated as 1 to 2 percentage points in our simulation model, and 2.6 percentage points in the empirical time-series model. The main implication for policymakers is that targeting zero inflation will lead to a large inefficiency in the allocation of resources, as reflected in a sustainable rate of unemployment that is unnecessarily high." (Text excerpt, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Wage bargaining and nominal rigidities (1994)
Zitatform
Holden, Steinar (1994): Wage bargaining and nominal rigidities. In: European Economic Review, Jg. 38, H. 5, S. 1021-1039. DOI:10.1016/0014-2921(94)90035-3
Abstract
"Delays in wage negotiations do not necessarily mean work stoppage. Production can continue under the terms of the old contract while the parties are bargaining (holdout). This holdout option is included in a strategic bargaining game in addition to strike and lock-out threats Integrating the bargaining model in a standard macroeconomic framework, it turns out that holdout threats will prevail under certain circumstances. In this case wages will be rigid in nominal terms, so that an increase in aggregate nominal demand increases aggregate output." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Zur Aussagekraft regionaler Arbeitslosenquoten (1984)
Koller, Martin;Zitatform
Koller, Martin (1984): Zur Aussagekraft regionaler Arbeitslosenquoten. In: Mitteilungen aus der Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Jg. 17, H. 2, S. 282-290.
Abstract
"Die Arbeitslosenquote ist nicht zuletzt wegen des langjährigen Ungleichgewichtes auf dem Arbeitsmarkt eine der vertrautesten Schlüsselgrößen für die Beurteilung konjunktureller Entwicklungen. Darüber hinaus dient sie als Indikator für regionale Strukturprobleme und für den gezielten Einsatz politischer Instrumente. So werden z.B. beschäftigungspolitische Sonderprogramme, aber auch erhebliche Mittelzuwendungen für Arbeitsbeschaffungsmaßnahmen im Rahmen des AFG oder aus dem europäischen Regionalfond oder im Rahmen der Gemeinschaftsaufgabe zur Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur nach Höhe und Entwicklung regionaler Arbeitslosenquoten ausgesteuert. Deshalb müssen gelegentliche kritische Anmerkungen zur 'Treffsicherheit' dieser Größe ernst genommen und die vorhandenen Möglichkeiten genauerer Messung genutzt werden. Im ersten Teil der Ausführungen werden eher grundlegende Einwände gegen die Aussagekraft der Arbeitslosenquoten dargestellt, die in ähnlicher Form allerdings für fast jeden Einzelindikator zu formulieren wären. Im zweiten Teil gilt das Hauptaugenmerk den regionalen Verzerrungen. Am Beispiel einiger Kontrollrechnungen wird dargelegt, welche Fehler mittlerweile vor allem deshalb anzusetzen sind, weil aktuelle und genaue Berechnungen zu den Erwerbspersonen in den Regionen nicht zur Verfügung stehen. Schließlich werden die Möglichkeiten, aber auch die noch offenen Probleme einer Neuberechnung brauchbarer Arbeitslosenquoten (in tiefer regionaler Gliederung) diskutiert." (Autorenreferat)