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How the ins and outs shape differently the U.S. unemployment over time and across frequencies

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  • Portugal, Pedro
  • Rua, António

Abstract

Although the U.S. case has been studied extensively, the importance of job finding and separation rates to unemployment variability remains unsettled. The aim of this paper is to contribute to this debate by adopting a novel lens, wavelet analysis. We resort to wavelet analysis to unveil time- and frequency-varying features regarding the contribution of the job finding and job separation rates for the U.S. unemployment rate dynamics. Drawing on this approach, we are able to reconcile some apparently contradictory findings reported in previous literature. We find that the job finding rate is more influential for the overall unemployment behaviour but the job separation rate also plays a critical role, especially during recessions. In particular, the job separation rate accounts for, on average, 53 percent of the unemployment variability at short-run fluctuations during recessions, in sharp contrast with an overall contribution of 21 percent over time and across frequencies.

Suggested Citation

  • Portugal, Pedro & Rua, António, 2020. "How the ins and outs shape differently the U.S. unemployment over time and across frequencies," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:121:y:2020:i:c:s0014292119302089
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2019.103348
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert E. Hall & Marianna Kudlyak, 2022. "Why Has the US Economy Recovered So Consistently from Every Recession in the Past 70 Years?," NBER Macroeconomics Annual, University of Chicago Press, vol. 36(1), pages 1-55.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Unemployment rate; Job separation; Job finding; Wavelets;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C10 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - General
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles

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