Preferences for Rigid versus Individualized Wage Setting in Search Economies with Frictions

Firing frictions and renegotiation costs affect worker and firm preferences
for rigid wages versus individualized Nash bargaining in a standard
model of equilibrium unemployment, in which workers vary by
observable skill. Rigid wages permit savings on renegotiation costs and
prevent workers from exploiting the firing friction. For standard calibrations,
the model can account for political support for wage rigidity
by both workers and firms, especially in labor markets for intermediate
skills. The firing friction is necessary for this effect, and reinforces
the impact of both turbulence and other labor market institutions on
preferences for rigid wages.