Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/63017 
Year of Publication: 
2004
Series/Report no.: 
Memorandum No. 2004,08
Publisher: 
University of Oslo, Department of Economics, Oslo
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 a ected 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.
Subjects: 
Downward nominal wage rigidity
European countries
employment protection legislation
JEL: 
C14
C15
E31
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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