The Trade-off between Precommitment and Flexibility in Trade Union Wage Setting.

C-Tier
Journal: Oxford Economic Papers
Year: 1991
Volume: 43
Issue: 4
Pages: 549-69

Authors (2)

Anderson, Simon P (University of Virginia) Devereux, Michael B (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.503 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 0.5x C-tier

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

Abstract

This paper examines two types of contract structures in a model where a trade union supplies labor to an industry, and sets the wage to maximize welfare. Firms' investment is endogenous, and the industry price is stochastic. Under short-term contracts, the union sets the wage after the firms' investment is in place, but also after the industry price is known. Under long- term contracts, the wage is chosen before investment and before the industry price is known. With short-term contracts the union has the benefit of ex-post wage flexibility, while under long-term contracts the union has the benefit of advance wage commitment which may be an important determinant of contract structure. The trade-off is examined in detail. Copyright 1991 by Royal Economic Society.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:oxecpp:v:43:y:1991:i:4:p:549-69
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-24