Labor market dynamics under long-term wage contracting

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Rudanko, Leena
• 署名单位: Boston University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF MONETARY ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3932
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoneco.2008.12.009
• 发表日期: 2009
• 页码: 170-183
• 关键词: Wage rigidity; unemployment fluctuations; Long-term wage contracts; limited commitment; directed search

摘要

Recent research seeking to explain the strong cyclicality of US unemployment emphasizes the role of wage rigidity. This paper proposes a micro-founded model of wage rigidity-an equilibrium business cycle model of job search, where risk neutral firms post optimal long-term contracts to attract risk averse workers. Equilibrium contracts feature wage smoothing, limited by the inability of parties to commit to contracts. The model is consistent with aggregate wage data if neither worker nor firm can commit, producing too rigid wages otherwise. Wage rigidity does not lead to a substantial increase in the cyclical volatility of unemployment. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.