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Implicit Contracts, Life Cycle Labor Supply, And Intertemporal Substitution

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  • JOHN C. HAM
  • KEVIN T. REILLY

Abstract

The implicit contract model is a serious alternative to the spot market interpretation of the labor market. However, its usefulness has been limited because the wage is unobserved, and hence it has not been possible to estimate an intertemporal (Frisch) supply elasticity for the model using microdata. In this article, we show that one can estimate this elasticity from microdata within the context of the implicit contract model under relatively weak assumptions based on consumer theory. We implement our approach on two micro data sets and, for both, obtain a reasonably precise elasticity estimate of approximately 1.0.

Suggested Citation

  • John C. Ham & Kevin T. Reilly, 2013. "Implicit Contracts, Life Cycle Labor Supply, And Intertemporal Substitution," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 54(4), pages 1133-1158, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:iecrev:v:54:y:2013:i:4:p:1133-1158
    DOI: 10.1111/iere.12031
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    Cited by:

    1. Marco Guerrazzi & Pier Giuseppe Giribone, 2022. "The dynamics of working hours and wages under implicit contracts," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(4), pages 1075-1094, October.

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