IMF Working Papers

Cost of Living Adjustment and Business Cycles: Disaggregated Evidence

By Magda E. Kandil

July 1, 2000

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Magda E. Kandil Cost of Living Adjustment and Business Cycles: Disaggregated Evidence, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2000) accessed September 18, 2024
Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

For a sample of US industries, nominal wage and price inflation follow aggregate price inflation closely during economic expansions. Hence, fluctuations in profit markup and real output are moderate in the face of expansionary demand shocks. During recessions, however, industrial nominal wage deflation exceeds that of the aggregate price level. This is in contras to producers’ attempt to maintain, or even increase, industrial real price inflation during recessions. Consistently, the increase in the profit markup is correlated with an increase in output contraction and a reduction in workers’ real standard of living during recessions.

Subject: Business cycles, Cost of living, Economic growth, Inflation, Labor, Prices, Real wages, Wage indexation, Wages

Keywords: Aggregate demand, Business Cycles, Cost of living, Inflation, Markup inflation, Nominal Flexibility, Nominal wage, Output price, Price inflation, Profit markup, Real wages, Standard of living, Wages, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    42

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2000/124

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA1242000

  • ISBN:

    9781451854718

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941