Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/21299 
Year of Publication: 
2005
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 1523
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) effects of being individually affected by downward wage rigidity on layoffs, quits and intra-firm mobility are investigated. We measure the individual extent of wage rigidity within a structural empirical model that allows us to estimate the notional wage growth which is about 1.4 % on average over the whole period. Wage growth is swept up by 3.3 % through wage rigidity and 62 % of the work force are in the real rigid regime. We find negative effects of wage sweep-up on quits, layoffs and promotions. This is consistent with a core-periphery view of the labour force, where a core work force is at the same time protected from layoffs and from wage cuts, whereas a peripheral work force provides a buffer for adjustment and suffers from both flexible wages and more insecure jobs. Reducing promotions for high wage sweep-up workers seems to be strategy of employers to circumvent wage rigidity. This suggests that it is not a pay policy chosen by the employer, but that it is imposed upon the employer through bargaining power. However, decreased promotion opportunities do not seem to fully outweigh the benefit of generous wage growth.
Subjects: 
wage rigidity
wage sweep up
job mobility
quits
layoffs
promotions
JEL: 
J63
J31
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
409.15 kB





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