Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/126674 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 9580
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
The dramatic change in economic conditions in Ireland over the last 10 years provides an opportunity to examine the impact of large macroeconomic shocks on inequality. We analyse wage inequality in Ireland from the height of an economic boom, through a very deep recession, to the start of a recovery. In keeping with previous work we find that dispersion in wages increased towards the height of the boom, driven largely by rising returns to skills. However, the economic crisis of 2008-2013 was accompanied by a significant reduction in earnings dispersion. Although the improving characteristics of the work force increased wages for everyone over this period, these increases were offset by falling returns to skills. Only workers in the lowest decile were unaffected by the declining returns, resulting in wage growth at the bottom of the distribution and a decline in inequality during the recession.
Subjects: 
inequality
composition bias
returns to skill
JEL: 
J31
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
217.08 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.