Non-base wage components as a source of wage adaptability to shocks: evidence from European firms, 2010–2013

Jan Babecký, Clémence Berson, Ludmila Fadejeva, Ana Lamo, Petra Marotzke, Fernando Martins and Paweł Strzelecki

No 2158, Working Paper Series from European Central Bank

Abstract: This paper provides evidence on the role of non-base wage components as a channel for firms to adjust labour costs in the event of adverse shocks. It uses data from a firm-level survey for 25 European countries that covers the period 2010–2013. We find that firms subject to nominal wage rigidities, which prevent them from adjusting base wages, are more likely to cut non-base wage components in order to adjust labour costs when needed. Firms thus use non-base wage components as a buffer to overcome base wage rigidity. We further show that while nonbase wage components exhibit some degree of downward rigidity, they do so to a lesser extent than base wages. JEL Classification: J30, J32, C81, P5

Keywords: bonuses; downward nominal wage rigidity; European Union; firm survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lma
Note: 337346
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Non-base wage components as a source of wage adaptability to shocks: evidence from European firms, 2010–2013 (2019)
Working Paper: Non-base wage components as a source of wage adaptability to shocks: Evidence from European firms, 2010 2013 (2018)
Working Paper: Non-base Wage Components as a Source of Wage Adaptability to Shocks: Evidence from European Firms, 2010-2013 (2018)
Working Paper: Non-base wage components as a source of wage adaptability to shocks: Evidence from European firms, 2010-2013 (2018)
Working Paper: Non-base wage components as a source of wage adaptability to shocks. Evidence from European firms, 2010–2013 (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:20182158

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