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Firm-Level Shocks and Labor Adjustments

Author

Listed:
  • Carlsson, Mikael

    (Uppsala Center for Labor Studies)

  • Messina, Julián

    (World Bank, and IZA)

  • Nordström Skans, Oskar

    (Uppsala Center for Labor Studies)

Abstract

We analyze how firms adjust their labor in response to idiosyncratic shifts in their production function and demand curves using a unique data-set of Swedish manufacturing firms. We show that permanent shocks to firm-level demand is a main driving force behind both job and worker reallocation. In contrast, shocks to physical productivity and temporary demand shocks have a very limited impact on firm-level employment despite being important determinants of other firm-level fundamentals. We also present evidence suggesting that the adjustment to permanent demand shocks is fairly unconstrained. Most notably, firms primarily downsize through increased separations of both short- and long-tenured workers even when they could have adjusted their employment through reduced hires.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlsson, Mikael & Messina, Julián & Nordström Skans, Oskar, 2014. "Firm-Level Shocks and Labor Adjustments," Working Paper Series, Center for Labor Studies 2014:13, Uppsala University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:uulswp:2014_013
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Sang-yoon Song, 2020. "Employer Size and Wage Inequality: Rent-Sharing Role of Performance Pay," Korean Economic Review, Korean Economic Association, vol. 36, pages 415-444.
    3. Borota Milicevic, Teodora & Carlsson, Mikael, 2016. "Markups from Inventory Data and Export Intensity," Working Paper Series 2016:9, Uppsala University, Department of Economics.
    4. Alex Clymo, 2019. "Dispersion Over the Business Cycle: Productivity versus Demand," 2019 Meeting Papers 1125, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    5. Mikael Carlsson & Andreas Westermark, 2022. "Endogenous Separations, Wage Rigidities, and Unemployment Volatility," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 14(1), pages 332-354, January.
    6. Pau Roldan & Sophia Gilbukh, 2017. "Firm Dynamics and Pricing under Customer Capital Accumulation," 2017 Meeting Papers 1235, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    7. Carlsson, Mikael, 2014. "Selection Effects in Producer-Price Setting," Working Paper Series 2014:6, Uppsala University, Department of Economics.
    8. Balke, Neele & Lamadon, Thibaut, 2021. "Productivity shocks, long-term contracts and earnings dynamics," Working Paper Series 2021:19, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Technology; Demand; Job Creation; Rigidities; Worker Flows;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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