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Labor Market Slack and the Output Gap: The Case of Korea

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Listed:
  • Mr. Niels-Jakob H Hansen
  • Mr. Joannes Mongardini
  • Fan Zhang

Abstract

Output gap estimates are widely used to inform macroeconomic policy decisions, including in Korea. The main determinant of these estimates is the measure of labor market slack. The traditional measure of unemployment in Korea yields an incomplete estimate of labor market slack, given that many workers prefer involuntary part-time jobs or leaving the labor force rather than registering as unemployed. This paper discusses a way in which the measure of unemployment can be broadened to yield a more accurate measure of labor market slack. This broader measure is then used to estimate the output gap using a multivariate filter, yielding a more meaningful measure of the output gap.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Niels-Jakob H Hansen & Mr. Joannes Mongardini & Fan Zhang, 2019. "Labor Market Slack and the Output Gap: The Case of Korea," IMF Working Papers 2019/167, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2019/167
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    5. Ali Alichi & Olivier Bizimana & Mr. Douglas Laxton & Kadir Tanyeri & Hou Wang & Jiaxiong Yao & Fan Zhang, 2017. "Multivariate Filter Estimation of Potential Output for the United States," IMF Working Papers 2017/106, International Monetary Fund.
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