Search Frictions and the Labor Wedge

Search Frictions and the Labor Wedge
Author: Mr.Andrea Pescatori
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 31
Release: 2011-05-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1455262404

This paper shows that labor market search frictions do not explain fluctuations in the labor wedge per se. However, the introduction of extensive and intensive margin clarifies that measuring the MRS in terms of total hours artificially introduces procyclicality in the MRS. When the MRS is correctly measured in terms of hours per worker, the labor wedge obtained is less variable than the one of the competitive model. Finally, we show that it is possible to measure a strongly procyclical labor wedge when the actual data generating process is a search model that allows for movements in both margins.

Labor, Credit, and Goods Markets

Labor, Credit, and Goods Markets
Author: Nicolas Petrosky-Nadeau
Publisher: MIT Press
Total Pages: 271
Release: 2017-11-10
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0262036452

An integrated framework to study the theoretical and quantitative properties of economies with frictions in labor, financial, and goods markets. This book offers an integrated framework to study the theoretical and quantitative properties of economies with frictions in multiple markets. Building on analyses of markets with frictions by 2010 Nobel laureates Peter A. Diamond, Dale T. Mortensen, and Christopher A. Pissarides, which provided a new theoretical approach to search markets, the book applies this new paradigm to labor, finance, and goods markets. It shows, in particular, how frictions in different markets interact with each other. The book first covers the main developments in the analysis of the labor market in the presence of frictions, offering a systematic analysis of the dynamics of this environment and explaining the notion of macroeconomic volatility. Then, building on the generality and simplicity of the search analysis, the book adapts it to other markets, developing the tools and concepts to analyze friction in these markets. The book goes beyond the traditional general equilibrium analysis of markets, which is often frictionless. It begins with the standard analysis of a single market, and then sequentially integrates more markets into the analysis, progressing from labor to financial to goods markets. Along the way, the book provides a number of useful results and insights, including the existence of a direct link between search frictions and the degree of volatility in the economy.

Search Frictions, Efficiency Wages and Equilibrium Unemployment

Search Frictions, Efficiency Wages and Equilibrium Unemployment
Author: Christopher Martin
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2019
Genre:
ISBN:

This paper explores the decomposition of equilibrium unemployment into involuntary and frictional components using a model that combines efficiency wages with search and matching frictions in the labour market. In deriving our results we generalize the celebrated Solow Condition, expressing the wage as the sum of a pure efficiency wage component and a component that reflects search frictions. Using standard values of calibrated parameters, we find that the bulk of unemployment is involuntary.

A Theory of Wages and Labor Demand with Intra-Firm Bargaining and Matching Frictions

A Theory of Wages and Labor Demand with Intra-Firm Bargaining and Matching Frictions
Author: Pierre Cahuc
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2008
Genre:
ISBN:

This article provides a model of labor market equilibrium with search and within-firm strategic bargaining. We yield explicit closed form solutions with heterogeneous labor inputs and capital. The solution exhibits overemployment. We show that higher relative bargaining power for some groups of workers may lead to overemployment relative to other groups, with such other groups being underemployed instead if they have a lower relative bargaining power. Similarly, the hold-up problem between capitalists and employees does not necessarily lead to underinvestment in physical capital.

Optimal Unemployment Insurance

Optimal Unemployment Insurance
Author: Andreas Pollak
Publisher: Mohr Siebeck
Total Pages: 204
Release: 2007
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9783161493041

Designing a good unemployment insurance scheme is a delicate matter. In a system with no or little insurance, households may be subject to a high income risk, whereas excessively generous unemployment insurance systems are known to lead to high unemployment rates and are costly both from a fiscal perspective and for society as a whole. Andreas Pollak investigates what an optimal unemployment insurance system would look like, i.e. a system that constitutes the best possible compromise between income security and incentives to work. Using theoretical economic models and complex numerical simulations, he studies the effects of benefit levels and payment durations on unemployment and welfare. As the models allow for considerable heterogeneity of households, including a history-dependent labor productivity, it is possible to analyze how certain policies affect individuals in a specific age, wealth or skill group. The most important aspect of an unemployment insurance system turns out to be the benefits paid to the long-term unemployed. If this parameter is chosen too high, a large number of households may get caught in a long spell of unemployment with little chance of finding work again. Based on the predictions in these models, the so-called "Hartz IV" labor market reform recently adopted in Germany should have highly favorable effects on the unemployment rates and welfare in the long run.