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Explaining Movements in the Labor Share

Author

Listed:
  • Bentolila Samuel

    (CEMFI)

  • Saint-Paul Gilles

    (IDEI, Université des Sciences Sociales de Toulouse)

Abstract
In this paper we study the evolution of the labor share in the OECD. We show it is essentially related to the capital-output ratio; that this relationship is shifted by factors like the price of imported materials or capital-augmenting technological progress; and that discrepancies between the marginal product of labor and the real wage ---due to, e.g., labor adjustment costs or union wage bargaining--- cause departures from it. We also provide empirical evidence on the determinants of the labor share with panel data on 13 industries and 12 countries for 1972-93.

Suggested Citation

  • Bentolila Samuel & Saint-Paul Gilles, 2003. "Explaining Movements in the Labor Share," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 3(1), pages 1-33, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejmac:v:contributions.3:y:2003:i:1:n:9
    DOI: 10.2202/1534-6005.1103
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Labor share; capital-output ratio;

    JEL classification:

    • E25 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Aggregate Factor Income Distribution
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General

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