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Wage Hikes as Supply and Demand Shock

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  • Jürgen Jerger
  • Jochen Michaelis

Abstract

Wage hikes affect production costs and hence are usually analysed as supply shocks. There is a long‐standing debate, however, about demand effects of wage variations. In this paper, we bring together these two arguments in a Kaldorian model with group‐specific saving rates and a production technology that allows for redistribution between workers and entrepreneurs following a wage hike. We thereby pinpoint the conditions under which (a) wage variations affect aggregate demand and (b) the positive demand effects of wage hikes may even overcompensate the negative supply effects on aggregate employment (‘purchasing power argument’). We conclude by noting that, whereas demand effects are very likely to occur, the conditions under which the purchasing power argument does indeed hold are very unrealistic.

Suggested Citation

  • Jürgen Jerger & Jochen Michaelis, 2003. "Wage Hikes as Supply and Demand Shock," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 434-457, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:metroe:v:54:y:2003:i:4:p:434-457
    DOI: 10.1111/1467-999X.00174
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    Cited by:

    1. Jens Suedekum & Uwe Blien & Johannes Ludsteck, 2006. "What has caused regional employment growth differences in Eastern Germany?," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 26(1), pages 51-73, March.
    2. Reinhold Kosfeld & Hans-Friedrich Eckey & Matthias Türck, 2008. "New economic geography and regional price level," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 28(1), pages 43-60, February.
    3. Ulrich Zierahn, 2012. "The importance of spatial autocorrelation for regional employment growth in Germany," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 32(1), pages 19-43, March.
    4. Blien, Uwe & Suedekum, Jens & Wolf, Katja, 2006. "Local employment growth in West Germany: A dynamic panel approach," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 445-458, August.
    5. Jens Suedekum & Uwe Blien, 2004. "Wages and Employment Growth: Disaggregated Evidence for West Germany," ERSA conference papers ersa04p641, European Regional Science Association.
    6. van Suntum, Ulrich, 2008. "The purchasing power argument: Could rising wages foster employment?," CAWM Discussion Papers 2, University of Münster, Münster Center for Economic Policy (MEP).
    7. Eckey, Hans-Friedrich & Türck, Matthias, 2005. "Deutsche Innovationsregionen," Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge 69, University of Kassel, Faculty of Economics and Management.
    8. Eckey, Hans-Friedrich & Türck, Matthias, 2005. "Convergence of EU-regions: A literature report," Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge 80, University of Kassel, Faculty of Economics and Management.
    9. Lai, Ching-chong & Chin, Chi-ting & Chang, Shu-hua, 2010. "Vertical separation versus vertical integration in a macroeconomic model with imperfect competition," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 590-602, October.
    10. Piotr Ciżkowicz & Andrzej Rzońca & Wiktor Wojciechowski, 2012. "Determinanty regionalnych różnic w dynamice liczby pracujących w Polsce w latach 1999-2008," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 11-12, pages 59-77.
    11. Henrich, Károly, 2004. "Globale Einkommensdisparitäten und -polaritäten," Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge 60, University of Kassel, Faculty of Economics and Management.
    12. Lorenz Blume & Stefan Voigt, 2007. "The Economic Effects of Human Rights," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(4), pages 509-538, November.
    13. Michaelis, Jochen, 2005. "Zur Reform der Leistungsformen der Pflegeversicherung: Ein familienökonomischer Ansatz," Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge 74, University of Kassel, Faculty of Economics and Management.
    14. Beckenbach, Frank, 2005. "Knowledge representation and search processes: A contribution to the microeconomics of invention and innovation," Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge 75, University of Kassel, Faculty of Economics and Management.
    15. Ulrich van Suntum, "undated". "The Purchasing Power Argument – Could Rising Wages Foster Employment?," Working Papers 200126, Institute of Spatial and Housing Economics, Munster Universitary.

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