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Labor Market Institutions and Macroeconomic Volatility in a Panel of OECD Countries

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  • Fabio RUMLER
  • Johann SCHARLER

Abstract

In this paper we analyse empirically how labour market institutions influence business cycle volatility in a sample of 20 OECD countries. Our results suggest that countries characterized by high union density tend to experience more volatile movements in output, whereas the degree of coordination of the wage bargaining system and strictness of employment protection legislation appear to play a limited role for output volatility. We also find some evidence suggesting that highly coordinated wage bargaining systems have a dampening impact on inflation volatility. JEL Classification: E31, E32
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  • Fabio RUMLER & Johann SCHARLER, 2008. "Labor Market Institutions and Macroeconomic Volatility in a Panel of OECD Countries," EcoMod2008 23800120, EcoMod.
    • Handle: RePEc:ekd:000238:23800120
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles

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