The public–private wage gap in the euro area a decade after the sovereign debt crisis

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Purpose The most recent fiscal adjustment episode in the euro area occurred during the so-called euro area sovereign debt crisis and relied quite significantly on the public wage bill. The austerity measures contributed to an immediate partial correction of positive public–private pay differentials, especially in countries subject to the EU’s financial assistance programs. An important aspect of the debate on public wage bill restraint concerns how long such policies can be sustained over time. In this paper, we investigate whether the downward corrections that were initially observed in many countries were permanent or ended up being transitory (i.e. whether they were reversed in subsequent years). Design/methodology/approach We focus on euro area countries over the 2007–2022 period so as to have sufficient observations in both the pre- and post-adjustment periods. We estimate the wage differential controlling for observable differences between individuals using cross-sectional microdata from a harmonized survey, the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC). Findings The lower wage premiums only partially reverted to pre-fiscal consolidation levels over the subsequent decade. More sustained policy achievements are linked to larger fiscal adjustment efforts during the 2010–2014 crisis. Originality/value This research provides a comprehensive analysis of the public–private pay gap in the context of significant economic events, shedding light on the long-term effects of fiscal consolidations on wage structures, which is crucial to inform future economic policies.

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