Labor Force Participation, Wage Rigidities, and Inflation

47 Pages Posted: 12 May 2016

Date Written: February 25, 2016

Abstract

The fall in US labor force participation during the Great Recession stands in sharp contrast with its parallel increase in the euro area. In addition to structural forces, cyclical factors are shown to account for this phenomenon, with the participation rate being procyclical in the US from the inception of the crisis and countercyclical in the euro area. We rationalize these diverging dynamics by using a general equilibrium business cycle model, which nests the endogenous participation decisions into a search and matching model. We show that the "added worker" effect might outweigh the "discouragement effect" if real wage rigidities are allowed for and/or habit in consumer preferences is sufficiently strong. We then draw the implications of variable labor force participation rates for inflation and establish the following result: if endogenous movements in labor market participation are envisaged, then the degree of real wage rigidities becomes almost irrelevant for price dynamics. Indeed, during recessions, the upward pressures on inflation stemming from the lack of a downward adjustment in real wages are offset by an opposite influence from the additional looseness in the labor market, due to the higher participation rate associated with wage rigidities.

Keywords: Labor Force Participation, Real Wage Rigidities, Habit, Inflation, Discouragement Effect, Added Worker Effect

JEL Classification: E31, E32, E24

Suggested Citation

Nucci, Francesco and Riggi, Marianna, Labor Force Participation, Wage Rigidities, and Inflation (February 25, 2016). Bank of Italy Temi di Discussione (Working Paper) No. 1054, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2777993 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2777993

Francesco Nucci

University of Rome I ( email )

Piazzale Aldo Moro
Rome, 00185
Italy
+39 06 4991 0847 (Phone)
+39 06 445 3246 (Fax)

Marianna Riggi (Contact Author)

Bank of Italy

Via Nazionale 91
00184 Roma
Italy

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