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Reference Norms, Staggered Wages, And Wage Leadership: Theoretical Implications And Empirical Evidence

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  • Markus Knell
  • Alfred Stiglbauer

Abstract

This article presents an extension of the Taylor model with staggered wages in which wage setting is also influenced by reference norms. We show that reference norms can considerably increase the persistence of inflation but that the size of this effect depends on the exact definition (e.g., external vs. internal, symmetric vs. asymmetric norms). Using data on collectively bargained wages in Austria from 1980 to 2006 we show that wage setting is strongly influenced by reference norms, that external norms seem to matter more than internal norms, and that there is a clear indication for the existence of wage leadership (asymmetric norms).

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  • Markus Knell & Alfred Stiglbauer, 2012. "Reference Norms, Staggered Wages, And Wage Leadership: Theoretical Implications And Empirical Evidence," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 53(2), pages 569-592, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:iecrev:v:53:y:2012:i:2:p:569-592
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2354.2012.00692.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Gerhard Fenz & Christian Ragacs & Alfred Stiglbauer, 2019. "Aggregate wage developments in Austria since the introduction of the euro," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue 19/Q1-Q2, pages 41-56.
    2. Camarero, Mariam & D'Adamo, Gaetano & Tamarit, Cecilio, 2014. "Wage leadership models: A country-by-country analysis of the EMU," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 44(S1), pages 2-11.
    3. Rainer Eppel & Ulrike Famira-Mühlberger & Julia Bock-Schappelwein, 2014. "Kennzeichen des österreichischen Arbeitsmarktes im EU-Vergleich," WIFO Monatsberichte (monthly reports), WIFO, vol. 87(11), pages 755-766, November.
    4. Benjamin Bittschi, 2023. "Lohnführerschaft in Österreich: Relikt der Vergangenheit oder sozialpartnerschaftlicher Dauerbrenner?," Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft - WuG, Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte für Wien, Abteilung Wirtschaftswissenschaft und Statistik, vol. 49(2), pages 79-101.
    5. Gerhard Fenz & Christian Ragacs & Alfred Stiglbauer, 2019. "Aggregate wage developments in Austria since the introduction of the euro," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue Q-1-Q2/19, pages 41-56.
    6. Andreas Wörgötter & Sihle Nomdebevana, 2020. "Aggregate Public-Private Remuneration Patterns in South Africa," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 48(4), pages 461-474, December.
    7. Rauf Gönenç & Oliver Röhn & Christian Beer & Andreas Wörgötter, 2013. "Responding to Key Well-being Challenges in Austria," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 1080, OECD Publishing.
    8. Simon Jäger & Benjamin Schoefer & Samuel Young & Josef Zweimüller, 2020. "Wages and the Value of Nonemployment," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 135(4), pages 1905-1963.
    9. Knell, Markus, 2013. "Nominal and real wage rigidities. In theory and in Europe," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 89-105.
    10. Fernando Martins, 2013. "Survey evidence on price and wage rigidities in Portugal," Working Papers w201312, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
    11. Gautier, Erwan & Roux, Sébastien & Suarez Castillo, Milena, 2022. "How do wage setting institutions affect wage rigidity? Evidence from French micro data," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    12. Philipp Gerhartinger & Philipp Haunschmid & Dennis Tamesberger, 2017. "How to explain Wage Growth Slowdown in Austria? A sectoral-panel analysis of collectively bargained minimum wages," ICAE Working Papers 58, Johannes Kepler University, Institute for Comprehensive Analysis of the Economy.

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