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Risk Shifting, Unemployment Insurance, and Layoffs

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  • Herschel I. Grossman

Abstract

This paper develops an analysis of labor markets in which the use of layoffs to effect employment separations does not imply that markets fail to clear or that the amount of employment is suboptimal relative to current perceptions. This analysis focuses on the interaction between contractual arrangements for shifting risk from workers to employers and tax-financed unemployment insurance. The key element in the analysis is that unemployment insurance is more attractive than risk shifting as a way for workers to obtain income during unemployment. The paper also analyses the effects of risk shifting and unemployment insurance on the magnitude of employment fluctuations. The analysis implies that, given the existence of unemployment insurance, the existence of risk-shifting arrangements makes employment less variable.

Suggested Citation

  • Herschel I. Grossman, 1980. "Risk Shifting, Unemployment Insurance, and Layoffs," NBER Working Papers 0424, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:0424
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Azariadis, Costas, 1978. "Escalator clauses and the allocation of cyclical risks," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 119-155, June.
    2. Barro, Robert J., 1977. "Long-term contracting, sticky prices, and monetary policy," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(3), pages 305-316, July.
    3. Baily, Martin Neil, 1977. "On the Theory of Layoffs and Unemployment," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 45(5), pages 1043-1063, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Herschel I. Grossman, 1981. "Incomplete Information, Risk Shifting, and Employment Fluctuations," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 48(2), pages 189-197.

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