In many European countries, wages are determined by collective bargaining agreements intended to improve wages and reduce inequality. We study the local and aggregate effects of collective bargaining in Italy and Germany. The two countries have similar geographical differences in firm...

We examine the changing relationship between unionization and wage inequality in Canada and the United States. Our study is motivated by profound recent changes in the composition of the unionized workforce. Historically, union jobs were concentrated among low-skilled men in private sector...

Im Gesetzentwurf vom 28. Mai 2014 wird die Einführung eines flächendeckenden gesetzlichen Mindestlohns damit begründet, dass die Beschäftigten vor unangemessen niedrigen Löhnen geschützt würden. Gleichzeitig werde dafür gesorgt, dass der Wettbewerb zwischen den Unternehmen nicht zu...

Wage inequality has risen in many countries over recent decades. At the same time, production has become increasingly concentrated in "superstar" firms. In this paper, we show that these two phenomena are linked. Theoretically, we show that shocks that increase concentration, such as an increase...