Wages and wage-bargaining institutions in the EMU – a survey of the issues

Lars Calmfors ()
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Lars Calmfors: Institute for International Economic Studies, Stockholm University, Postal: Stockholm University, S-106 69 Stockholm, Sweden

No 690, Seminar Papers from Stockholm University, Institute for International Economic Studies

Abstract: The paper distinguishes between the impact of the EMU on nominal wage flexibility and on equilibrium real wage and unemployment levels. A perceived need to increase nominal wage flexibility as a substitute for domestic monetary policy and a tendency to less real wage moderation in the EMU are likely to promote informal bargaining co-ordination and social pacts in the medium run. But such co-ordination is not likely to be sustainable in the long run, as it conflicts with other forces working in the direction of decentralization and deunionisation. This could lead to more government intervention in wage setting during a transitional period. Although monetary unification will strengthen the incentives for higher-level transnational co-ordination of wage bargaining, such a development is improbable in view of the co-ordination costs involved. If transnational co-ordination develops, it is most likely to occur within multinational firms.

Keywords: wage; bargaining; EMU (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 43 pages
Date: 2001-05-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eec, nep-ifn, nep-lab, nep-ltv and nep-pke
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (30)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hhs:iiessp:0690

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