No. 20/2002
WAGES AND SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENTS OF REGIONAL
LABOUR MARKET PRESSURE

Fredrik Carlsen
Kåre Johansen

Abstract:
We utilise a rich set of regional labour market variables to explain regional variation in Norwegian manufacturing wages. In particular, regional indicators of labour market pressure are computed from survey data in which respondents are asked to evaluate local job prospects. We find that average reported satisfaction with local job prospects and other survey-based indicators perform better in regional wage equations than traditional labour market variables, including the regional unemployment rate. Our results suggest that surveys may provide useful information about regional labour markets.