Non-Linear Dynamics of Real Wages Over the Business Cycle

This paper aims at analysing the dynamic properties of real wages over the business cycle. We apply a Bayesian vector autoregressive (BVAR) model and analyse the possible asymmetric behaviour of real wages in response to different macroeconomic shocks. Finally, we use the NBER business cycle periodisation to evaluate how real wages interact with the different shocks during contractions and booms. The results indicate that real wages cyclicality substantially depends on the driving forces of business cycle fluctuations. Different time periods are dominated by different types of shocks. When the business cycle is mainly driven by supply-side shocks real wages present a pro-cyclical behaviour. On the contrary, when the business cycle is driven by aggregate demand shocks real wages move counter-cyclically.