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What Explains the Decline of the U.S. Labor Share of Income? An Analysis of State and Industry Level Data

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  • Mr. Yasser Abdih
  • Mr. Stephan Danninger

Abstract

The U.S. labor share of income has been on a secular downward trajectory since the beginning of the new millennium. Using data that are disaggregated across both state and industry, we show the decline in the labor share is broad-based but the extent of the fall varies greatly. Exploiting a new data set on the task characteristics of occupations, the U.S. input-output tables, and the Current Population Survey, we find that in addition to changes in labor institutions, technological change and different forms of trade integration lowered the labor share. In particular, the fall was largest, on average, in industries that saw: a high initial intensity of “routinizable” occupations; steep declines in unionization; a high level of competition from imports; and a high intensity of foreign input usage. Quantitatively, we find that the bulk of the effect comes from changes in technology that are linked to the automation of routine tasks, followed by trade globalization.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Yasser Abdih & Mr. Stephan Danninger, 2017. "What Explains the Decline of the U.S. Labor Share of Income? An Analysis of State and Industry Level Data," IMF Working Papers 2017/167, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2017/167
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Vallés, Javier & Salas Fumás, Vicente & San Juan, Lucio, 2022. "Corporate economic profits in the euro area: The relevance of cost competitive advantage," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 569-585.
    2. Nicholas Crafts, 2022. "Slow real wage growth during the Industrial Revolution: productivity paradox or pro-rich growth? [Engels’ pause: technical change, capital accumulation, and inequality in the British industrial rev," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 74(1), pages 1-13.
    3. Nikolaos Charalampidis, 2024. "Frictions and the diffusion of automation," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 92(2), pages 148-170, March.
    4. Donghyun Park & Kwanho Shin, 2022. "Aging and labor share of income in Korea," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 36(4), pages 432-457, December.
    5. Matthew Knepper, 2020. "From the Fringe to the Fore: Labor Unions and Employee Compensation," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 102(1), pages 98-112, March.
    6. Dilyana Dimova, 2019. "The Structural Determinants of the Labor Share in Europe," IMF Working Papers 2019/067, International Monetary Fund.
    7. Nikolaos Charalampidis, 2020. "The U.S. Labor Income Share And Automation Shocks," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 58(1), pages 294-318, January.
    8. Eggertsson, Gauti B. & Robbins, Jacob A. & Wold, Ella Getz, 2021. "Kaldor and Piketty’s facts: The rise of monopoly power in the United States," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(S), pages 19-38.
    9. Andrea Coveri & Mario Pianta, 2019. "The Structural Dynamics of Income Distribution:Technology, Wages and Profits," Working Papers 1901, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Department of Economics, Society & Politics - Scientific Committee - L. Stefanini & G. Travaglini, revised 2019.
    10. Geoff Weir, 2018. "Wage Growth Puzzles and Technology," RBA Research Discussion Papers rdp2018-10, Reserve Bank of Australia.

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