Establishment Turnover and the Evolution of Wage Inequality

We consider the determinants of the evolution of wage inequality in the context of the literature on entry and exit of establishments. Using several measures of wage inequality (overall, within-group, and between-groups), we conclude that shutdowns reduce overall and within-group inequality because they eliminate low-pay jobs. Startups increase wage inequality between age and, especially, education groups, because newly-created establishments make staffing choices that are different from those made by continuously-operating establishments and establishments that shut down.