Volume 2, Issue 4 December 2006

Firm-Specific Labor and Firm-Specific Capital: Implications for the Euro-Data New Phillips Curve

Abstract

Standard GMM estimates of the New Phillips curve on euro-area data yield degrees of nominal rigidity that are not in accordance with recent microeconomic evidence. This paper studies whether similar conclusions are reached in a richer model where price setters face firm-specific capital and/or firm-specific labor. We find that combining these elements or considering firm-specific labor alone leads to statistically significant and economically reasonable estimates of the degree of nominal rigidity. In contrast, ignoring firm-specific labor yields estimates that are not supported by microeconomic evidence.

Authors

  • Julien Matheron

JEL codes

  • E1
  • E3