Fixed Exchange-Rate Policy and Real Wage Growth: Quasi-Experimental Evidence

Abstract

Using Difference-in-Differences estimation and data from the European Community Household Panel, this paper suggests that the fixed exchange-rate policy adopted by Italy in the 1997-2000 period has reduced the real hourly wage growth of Italian full-time workers with permanent contracts, on average, by 3%. Yet, the cost of the policy has been ultimately paid by the private sector where real wage growth has decreased by 5.4%.