Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Memorandum,
Oslo University, Department of Economics

No 08/2004: Downward Nominal Wage Rigidity in Europe

Steinar Holden () and Fredrik Wulfsberg ()
Additional contact information
Steinar Holden: Dept. of Economics, University of Oslo, Postal: Department of Economics, University of Oslo, P.O Box 1095 Blindern, N-0317 Oslo, Norway
Fredrik Wulfsberg: Norges Bank, Postal: Bankplassen 2, P.O. Box 1179 Sentrum, N-0107 Oslo, Norway

Abstract: This paper explores the existence of downward nominal wage rigidity (DNWR) in the industry sectors of 14 European countries, over the period 1973–1999, using a data set of hourly nominal wages at industry level. Based on a novel nonparametric statistical method, which allows for country and year specific variation in both the median and the dispersion of industry wage changes, we reject the hypothesis of no DNWR. The fraction of wage cuts prevented due to DNWR has fallen over time, from 70 percent in the 1970s to 20 percent in the 1990s, but the number of industries aected by DNWR has increased. Wage cuts are less likely in countries and years with high inflation, low unemployment, high union density and strict employment protection legislation.

Keywords: Downward nominal wage rigidity; European countries; employment protection legislation

JEL-codes: C14; C15; E31

33 pages, March 31, 2004

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Published as
Steinar Holden and Fredrik Wulfsberg, (2008), 'Downward Nominal Wage Rigidity in the OECD', B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics (Advances), vol 8, no Article 15

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