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Workweek reduction and women's job turnover: Evidence from labor legislation in South Korea

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  • Taehyun Ahn

Abstract

This study examines whether a workweek reduction impacts job turnover behavior of workers, with a particular focus on female worker's turnover. To assess the causal relationship, I exploit the introduction of South Korea's workweek reduction policy as a natural experiment. Using individual longitudinal data, I estimate a job turnover model that distinguishes job‐to‐job transition from job‐to‐nonemployment transition. The estimates reveal that, for women, mandating a 40‐h workweek significantly decreases the probability of making a job‐to‐nonemployment transition and thus raises the probability of staying in the job. The impacts of a work‐hour reduction are salient among married women.

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  • Taehyun Ahn, 2022. "Workweek reduction and women's job turnover: Evidence from labor legislation in South Korea," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 60(4), pages 1607-1625, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:60:y:2022:i:4:p:1607-1625
    DOI: 10.1111/ecin.13104
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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