Abstract
Theory: The theory addresses the forces that determine the real wages which workers receive. It is proposed that in the free market system, worker power plays a crucial mediating role between economic considerations involving labor supply and productivity, and the real wages available to workers in the economy. Hypotheses: In moderate and weak worker power countries, real wages will vary inversely with the labor supply in terms of domestic unemployment and international trade. In strong worker power countries, real wages will vary with changes in productivity and inflation. Methods: Separate regression analyses are developed for 10 countries varying in their level of worker power, over a 30 year time frame. Results: In moderate and weak worker power countries, changes in real wages were best predicted by levels of unemployment and changes in global trading. In strong worker power countries, changes in real wages were best predicted by changes in productivity and inflation, although in one case of a strong worker power country, a significant positive association occurred between global trading and real wages.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1233-1252 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | American Journal of Political Science |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| State | Published - Nov 1996 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Sociology and Political Science
Cite this
In search of economic well-being : Worker power and the effects of productivity, inflation, unemployment and global trade on wages in ten wealthy countries. / Volgy, Thomas J; Schwarz, John E.; Imwalle, Lawrence E.
In: American Journal of Political Science, Vol. 40, No. 4, 11.1996, p. 1233-1252.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - In search of economic well-being
T2 - Worker power and the effects of productivity, inflation, unemployment and global trade on wages in ten wealthy countries
AU - Volgy, Thomas J
AU - Schwarz, John E.
AU - Imwalle, Lawrence E.
PY - 1996/11
Y1 - 1996/11
N2 - Theory: The theory addresses the forces that determine the real wages which workers receive. It is proposed that in the free market system, worker power plays a crucial mediating role between economic considerations involving labor supply and productivity, and the real wages available to workers in the economy. Hypotheses: In moderate and weak worker power countries, real wages will vary inversely with the labor supply in terms of domestic unemployment and international trade. In strong worker power countries, real wages will vary with changes in productivity and inflation. Methods: Separate regression analyses are developed for 10 countries varying in their level of worker power, over a 30 year time frame. Results: In moderate and weak worker power countries, changes in real wages were best predicted by levels of unemployment and changes in global trading. In strong worker power countries, changes in real wages were best predicted by changes in productivity and inflation, although in one case of a strong worker power country, a significant positive association occurred between global trading and real wages.
AB - Theory: The theory addresses the forces that determine the real wages which workers receive. It is proposed that in the free market system, worker power plays a crucial mediating role between economic considerations involving labor supply and productivity, and the real wages available to workers in the economy. Hypotheses: In moderate and weak worker power countries, real wages will vary inversely with the labor supply in terms of domestic unemployment and international trade. In strong worker power countries, real wages will vary with changes in productivity and inflation. Methods: Separate regression analyses are developed for 10 countries varying in their level of worker power, over a 30 year time frame. Results: In moderate and weak worker power countries, changes in real wages were best predicted by levels of unemployment and changes in global trading. In strong worker power countries, changes in real wages were best predicted by changes in productivity and inflation, although in one case of a strong worker power country, a significant positive association occurred between global trading and real wages.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030492218&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0030492218
VL - 40
SP - 1233
EP - 1252
JO - American Journal of Political Science
JF - American Journal of Political Science
SN - 0092-5853
IS - 4
ER -