Expectations Set High: Understanding Reservation Wages in North Macedonia

29 Pages Posted: 15 Nov 2019

See all articles by Marjan Petreski

Marjan Petreski

University American College Skopje (UACS)

Ana Maria Oviedo

World Bank

Cesar Cancho

World Bank

Date Written: September 25, 2019

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to understand the determinants of reservation wages and measure the gap between reservation and market wages in North Macedonia. The study makes use of recently collected information on reservation wages in the Labor Force Survey 2016 and 2017. The analysis relies on ordinary least squares, propensity score matching, Heckman-corrected estimates, and panel fixed effects. The results suggest that it is mainly supply factors that shape reservation wages in the country. Higher education achievement sizably increases future wage expectations, while age and longer spells of unemployment reduce them. Demand factors are found to be insignificant for reservation wage formation. Observed by skill level, the results suggest that low-skilled individuals consistently value their skills higher than what the market offers and set too high expectations. These circumstances are aggravated in cases where the household is well-off and/or receives remittances. By contrast, highly skilled individuals, despite maintaining a positive reservation wage gap, have a propensity to accept market wages even when they fall below their reservation wage, likely because these workers fear rapid depreciation of their skills.

Suggested Citation

Petreski, Marjan and Oviedo, Ana Maria and Cancho, Cesar, Expectations Set High: Understanding Reservation Wages in North Macedonia (September 25, 2019). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 9023, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3485905

Marjan Petreski (Contact Author)

University American College Skopje (UACS) ( email )

Treta Makedonska Brigada
Skopje, 1000
Macedonia

Ana Maria Oviedo

World Bank ( email )

Washington DC
United States

Cesar Cancho

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

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