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Measuring human capital in the labor market: The supply of experience in 8 OECD countries

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  • Wasmer, Etienne

Abstract

To investigate the evolution of the supply side of the labor market, I derive a methodology to measure an important component of the human capital level of the workforce, the experience of the labor market. Based on the perpetual inventory method, a stock of experience is estimated for eight OECD countries. It appears that, during the last three decades, the OECD labor markets have faced a decline in the supply of experience by the labor market participants, with a minimum in the early 1980s for most countries and a recovery in the 1990s. Some implications regarding relative wages, relative unemployment and schooling are discussed.
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  • Wasmer, Etienne, 2001. "Measuring human capital in the labor market: The supply of experience in 8 OECD countries," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(4-6), pages 861-874, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:45:y:2001:i:4-6:p:861-874
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    1. de la Croix, David & Docquier, Frederic & Liegeois, Philippe, 2007. "Income growth in the 21st century: Forecasts with an overlapping generations model," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 621-635.
    2. Wasmer, E., 1998. "Labour Supply Dynamics, Unemployment and Human Capital Investments," Papers 651, Stockholm - International Economic Studies.
    3. Olivier Charlot, 2005. "Éducation, emploi et participation au marché du travail dans un modèle d'appariement," Recherches économiques de Louvain, De Boeck Université, vol. 71(1), pages 35-66.
    4. Léné, Alexandre, 2011. "Occupational downgrading and bumping down: The combined effects of education and experience," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 257-269, April.
    5. Verdugo, Gregory, 2014. "The great compression of the French wage structure, 1969–2008," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 131-144.
    6. Étienne Wasmer, 2004. "Labor supply dynamics, unemployment and experience in the labor market," Recherches économiques de Louvain, De Boeck Université, vol. 70(4), pages 461-482.
    7. Wasmer, Etienne, 2001. "Between-group Competition in the Labor Market and the Rising Returns to Skill: US and France 1964-2000," IZA Discussion Papers 292, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Chojnicki, Xavier & Docquier, Frédéric & Ragot, Lionel, 2005. "Should the U.S. Have Locked the Heaven's Door? Reassessing the Benefits of the Postwar Immigration," IZA Discussion Papers 1676, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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