Labor Market Reform and Monetary Policy in Emu: Do Asymmetries Matter?

26 Pages Posted: 23 Oct 2001

See all articles by Andrew J. Hughes

Andrew J. Hughes

Cardiff Business School; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); Vanderbilt University - College of Arts and Science - Department of Economics

Nicola Viegi

University of Pretoria - Department of Economics

Date Written: September 2001

Abstract

This Paper analyzes the interaction between a common monetary policy and differentiated labor market institutions. We develop a model of a two country monetary union. In each country, labor market institutions are distinguished by the degree of centralization in wage bargaining. In each country the government can also use an instrument (general taxation or payroll taxes) to influence their overall labor costs. Finally a common monetary policy is followed in a "conservative" manner, as defined by Rogoff (1985). The results show that structural and preference asymmetries matter, both in the determination of economic policy and in performance. In particular centralized labor market institutions confer a certain comparative advantage in policy making which provides a natural incentive for the less flexible (or less reformed) to want to join a currency union; and for the more flexible to stay outside. This lowers the incentives for reform inside the union, as Calmfors and others have conjectured.

Keywords: Monetary union, labor market institutions, asymmetries

JEL Classification: E58, E61, F33, J51

Suggested Citation

Hughes Hallett, Andrew J. and Viegi, Nicola, Labor Market Reform and Monetary Policy in Emu: Do Asymmetries Matter? (September 2001). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=286596

Andrew J. Hughes Hallett (Contact Author)

Cardiff Business School ( email )

Aberconway Building
Cardiff CF10 3EU
United Kingdom
+44 292 087 001 (Phone)

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

Vanderbilt University - College of Arts and Science - Department of Economics ( email )

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Nashville, TN 37235
United States
615-322-8539 (Phone)
615-343-8495 (Fax)

Nicola Viegi

University of Pretoria - Department of Economics ( email )

Pretoria 0002
South Africa

HOME PAGE: http://www.nviegi.net

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