The Changing Nature of Irish Wage Inequality from Boom to Bust

Niamh Holton and Donal O'Neill
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Niamh Holton: Nevin Economic Research Institute

No 9580, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: The dramatic change in economic conditions in Ireland over the last 10 years provides an opportunity to examine the impact of large macroeconomic shocks on inequality. We analyse wage inequality in Ireland from the height of an economic boom, through a very deep recession, to the start of a recovery. In keeping with previous work we find that dispersion in wages increased towards the height of the boom, driven largely by rising returns to skills. However, the economic crisis of 2008-2013 was accompanied by a significant reduction in earnings dispersion. Although the improving characteristics of the work force increased wages for everyone over this period, these increases were offset by falling returns to skills. Only workers in the lowest decile were unaffected by the declining returns, resulting in wage growth at the bottom of the distribution and a decline in inequality during the recession.

Keywords: returns to skill; composition bias; inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 22 pages
Date: 2015-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-mac
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Forthcoming - published in: Economic and Social Review, 2017, 48 (1):1-26

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Changing Nature of Irish Wage Inequality from Boom to Bust (2017)
Working Paper: The Changing Nature of Irish Wage Inequality from Boom to Bust (2015)
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