Abstract

Using an alternative data, we built a General Wage Index for the industry of
transformation, between 1961 and 1984. Its desagregation permited us to analyse the evolution
of real salaries and real wages of the eight professional categories. We verified that
the earnings depend, in the first place, on the conduct of the economic cycle, and secondarily,
on the factors related to the business’ organizational structure, trade-union movement, and
government’s wage policy. The official minimum wage doesn’t seem to determine the wages
rate; its major impact concerns to the informal sector.

JEL Classification: J31; J38.