Work

War and Pestilence as Labor Market Shocks: U.s. Manufacturing Wage Growth 1914–1919

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: This paper explores the effect of mortalities from the 1918 influenza pandemic and World War I on wage growth in the manufacturing sector of U.S. states and cities from 1914–1919. The hypothesis is that both events decreased manufacturing labor supply, thereby initially increasing the marginal product of labor and wages. The results reveal that states and cities having had greater influenza mortalities experienced higher wage growth—roughly 2–3 percentage points for a 10% change in per capita mortalities. World War I combat mortalities also had a positive, but smaller, effect on wage growth. (JEL N62, N32, N92, I12)

Source: Economic Inquiry

DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-7295.2008.00137.x

Author: THOMAS A. GARRETT

Institutions: Eastern Illinois University, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Language: English

Topic: Historical Economic and Social Studies

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2092451932

FWCI: 1.373

Cites: 43

Cited by: 48

Related to: 10