There is power in general equilibrium

Abstract

The article develops a general equilibrium model where power relations are central in the determination of unemployment, profitability, and income distribution. The paper contributes to the market forces versus institutions debate by providing a unified model capable of identifying key interrelations between technical and institutional changes in the economy. Empirically, the model is used to gauge the relative roles of technology and institutions in the behavior of the labor share, the unemployment rate, the capital-output ratio, and business profitability and demonstrates how they complement each other in providing an adequate narrative to the structural changes of the US economy.