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Returns to on-the-job search and the dispersion of wages

Author

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  • Gottfries, Axel
  • Teulings, Coen

Abstract

A wide class of models with On-the-Job Search (OJS) predicts that workers gradually select into better-paying jobs. We develop a simple methodology to test predictions implied by OJS using two sources of identification: (i) time-variation in job-finding rates and (ii) the time since the last lay-off. Conditional on the termination date of the job, job duration should be distributed uniformly. This methodology is applied to the NLSY 79. We find remarkably strong support for all implications. The standard deviation of the wage offer distribution is about 15%. OJS accounts for 30% of the experience profile, 9% of total wage dispersion and an average wage loss of 11% following a lay-off.

Suggested Citation

  • Gottfries, Axel & Teulings, Coen, 2016. "Returns to on-the-job search and the dispersion of wages," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 86219, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:86219
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/86219/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hartog, Joop & Raposo, Pedro, 2017. "Are starting wages reduced by an insurance premium for preventing wage decline? Testing the prediction of Harris and Holmstrom (1982)," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 105-119.
    2. Gottfries, A. & Teulings, T., 2017. "Wage Posting, Nominal Rigidity, and Cyclical Inefficiencies," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1736, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    3. Teulings, Coen & Gottfries, Axel, 2017. "Wage posting, nominal rigidity, and cyclical inefficiencies," CEPR Discussion Papers 12316, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    On-the-job search; Wage dispersion; Job duration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search

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