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Learning when to say no

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  • Evans, David
  • Evans, George W.
  • McGough, Bruce

Abstract

We consider boundedly-rational agents in McCall's model of intertemporal job search. Agents update over time their perception of the value of waiting for an additional job offer using value-function learning. A first-principles argument applied to a stationary environment demonstrates asymptotic convergence to fully optimal decision-making. In environments with actual or possible structural change our agents are assumed to discount past data. Using simulations, we consider a change in unemployment benefits, and study the effect of the associated learning dynamics on unemployment and its duration. Separately, in a calibrated exercise we show the potential of our model of bounded rationality to resolve a frictional wage dispersion puzzle.

Suggested Citation

  • Evans, David & Evans, George W. & McGough, Bruce, 2021. "Learning when to say no," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:194:y:2021:i:c:s0022053121000570
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2021.105240
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    Cited by:

    1. Evans, David & Evans, George W. & McGough, Bruce, 2022. "Bounded rationality and unemployment dynamics," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    2. Evans, David & Evans, George W. & McGough, Bruce, 2022. "The RPEs of RBCs and other DSGEs," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Search and unemployment; Learning; Dynamic optimization; Bounded rationality; Wage dispersion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D84 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Expectations; Speculations
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity

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