Wage Posting or Wage Bargaining? A Test Using Dual Jobholders

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Labor Economics
Year: 2022
Volume: 40
Issue: S1
Pages: S469 - S493

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We employ a revealed preference test to distinguish between wage posting and wage bargaining. Using a sample of dual jobholders in Washington State, we estimate the sensitivity of wages and separation rates to wage shocks in a secondary job. In lower parts of the wage distribution, improvements in the outside option lead to higher separations rates but not to higher wages, consistent with wage posting. In the highest wage quartile, improved outside options translate to higher wages but not higher separation rates, consistent with bargaining. In the aggregate, bargaining appears to be a limited determinant of wage setting.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/718321
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-25