It is claimed that membership of the exchange rate mechanism (ERM) of the European Monetary System (EMS) gives countries a credibility bonus which reduces the output and employment costs of disinflation. Within the EMS this arises because of the commitment of participants in the ERM to maintain...

A number of recent studies have documented extensive downward nominal wage rigidity (DNWR) for job stayers in many OECD countries. However, DNWR for individual workers may induce downward rigidity or “a floor” for the aggregate wage growth at positive or negative levels. Aggregate wage...

Based on a survey of around 560 Austrian firms conducted within Wage Dynamics Network (WDN) of the ESCB this study investigates how these firms respond to a decline in demand. About 80% of the firms surveyed report that they consider cutting costs a relevant or highly relevant measure in...

Dieser Beitrag analysiert die Existenz, das Ausmaß sowie die realwirtschaftlichen Implikationen nach unten starrer Nominallöhne in Deutschland. Unter Verwendung von drei alternativen Modellvarianten für die proportionale Abwärtsnominallohnstarrheit wird auf Grundlage der...

Dieser Beitrag analysiert die Existenz und das Ausmaß nach unten starrer Nominallöhne, sowie deren realwirtschaftliche Implikationen für den deutschen Arbeitsmarkt. Unter Verwendung von drei alternativen Modellvarianten für die proportionale Abwärtsnominallohnrigidität wurde auf Grundlage...

This paper uses a variety of empirical methods to examine the apparent differences in monetary policy stances as between the United States and other G7 economies, notably those in the euro area, during the period of sharp increases in oil and other commodity prices in the first half of 2008. In...

One of the most common myths in European economic history, and indeed in Economics itself, is that the Black Death of 1347-48, followed by other waves of bubonic plague, led to an abrupt rise in real wages, for both agricultural labourers and urban artisans – one that led to the so-called...

This paper deals with the narrowing the income gap between the Central and East European New Member States (NMS-5) and the EU-25 and with the trade-off between the real and nominal convergence. The methodology is based on international standards enabling comparisons of macroeconomic indicators,...