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The Reallocation of Labour: An International Comparison Using Job Tenure

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  • Simon Burgess

Abstract

This paper sets out the issues surrounding the optimal amount of job reallocation. The key factors are the trainability of the workforce, the volatility of demand and the cost of contract termination. The paper uses an international dataset to characterise the nature of labour reallocation and to isolate the effect of country-specific factors. We investigate the extent to which these country differences can be explained by the trainability of the workforce and employment protection legislation. We find that both of these have a significant role to play in affecting the reallocation of labour. In addition, we show that the impact of the country-specific factors varies dramatically by age and industry: much larger differences are found among older workers than younger ones, and in retail trade than in manufacturing.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon Burgess, 1999. "The Reallocation of Labour: An International Comparison Using Job Tenure," CEP Discussion Papers dp0416, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp0416
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    Cited by:

    1. Henneberger, Fred & Sousa-Poza, Alfonso, 2002. "Beweggründe und Determinanten zwischenbetrieblicher Mobilität: Die Schweiz in einer internationalen Perspektive (Motives and determinants of job-to-job mobility : Switzerland in an international persp," Mitteilungen aus der Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 35(2), pages 205-231.
    2. Bussolo Maurizio & Capelle Damien & Lokshin Michael M. & Torre Iván & Winkler Hernan, 2023. "Explaining the Evolution of Job Tenure in Europe, 1995–2020," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 13(1), pages 1-32, January.
    3. Julio J. Rotemberg, 2002. "Perceptions of Equity and the Distribution of Income," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 20(2), pages 249-288, Part.
    4. B Contini & l Pacelli & C Villosio, 1999. "Short Employment Spells in Italy, Germany and the UK: Testing the Port of Entry Hypothesis," CEP Discussion Papers dp0426, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    5. Maurizio Bussolo & Michael M. Lokshin & Nicolás Oviedo & Iván Torre, 2024. "The evolution of job tenure in transition economies," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(2), pages 449-471, April.
    6. Theodossiou, I. & Zangelidis, A., 2009. "Should I stay or should I go? The effect of gender, education and unemployment on labour market transitions," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 566-577, October.
    7. Karen Mumford & Peter N. Smith, 2003. "Determinants of current job tenure: a cross country comparison," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 6(3), pages 435-451, September.
    8. Yukawa Shiho, 2015. "Effects of Fatherhood on Male Wage and Labor Supply in Japan," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 15(2), pages 437-474, April.
    9. Nuno Crespo & Nádia Simões & José Castro Pinto, 2013. "Determinant factors of job quality in Europe," Working Papers Series 2 13-01, ISCTE-IUL, Business Research Unit (BRU-IUL).
    10. Karen Mumford & Peter N. Smith, 2004. "Job Reallocation, Employment Change And Average Job Tenure: Theory And Workplace Evidence From Australia," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 51(3), pages 402-421, August.
    11. Faggio, Giulia & Konings, Jozef, 2003. "Job creation, job destruction and employment growth in transition countries in the 90s," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 129-154, June.
    12. Michela Ponzo, 2012. "On-the-job Search in Italian Labor Markets: An Empirical Analysis," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(2), pages 213-232, July.
    13. Wolff, Joachim, 2004. "The Duration of New Job Matches in East and West Germany," Discussion Papers in Economics 360, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
    14. Bingley, Paul & Westergaard-Nielsen, Niels, 2004. "Personnel policy and profit," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 57(5), pages 557-563, May.
    15. Simon Burgess, 2000. "Le chômage au Royaume-Uni : une perspective dynamique," Économie et Statistique, Programme National Persée, vol. 332(1), pages 117-132.
    16. World Bank, 2003. "The Russian Labor Market : Moving from Crisis to Recovery," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15007.
    17. Ronald BACHMANN & Rahel FELDER, 2018. "Job stability in Europe over the cycle," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 157(3), pages 481-518, September.
    18. Simionescu Mihaela & Naroș Maria-Simona, 2019. "The Unemployment of Highly Educated People in Romania. A Panel VAR Approach," Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, Sciendo, vol. 29(3), pages 20-37, September.
    19. Henneberger, Fred & Sousa-Poza, Alfonso, 2002. "Beweggründe und Determinanten zwischenbetrieblicher Mobilität: Die Schweiz in einer internationalen Perspektive (Motives and determinants of job-to-job mobility : Switzerland in an international persp," Mitteilungen aus der Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 35(2), pages 205-231.

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    JEL classification:

    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General

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