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Reconsidering the Consequences of Worker Displacements: Firm versus Worker Perspective

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  • Aaron B. Flaaen
  • Matthew D. Shapiro
  • Isaac Sorkin

Abstract

Prior literature has established that displaced workers suffer persistent earnings losses by following workers in administrative data after mass layoffs. This literature assumes that these are involuntary separations owing to economic distress. This paper examines this assumption by matching survey data on worker-supplied reasons for separations with administrative data. Workers exhibit substantially different earnings dynamics in mass layoffs depending on the rea- son for separation. Using a new methodology to account for the increased separation rates across all survey responses during a mass layoff, the paper finds earnings loss estimates that are surprisingly close to those using only administrative data.

Suggested Citation

  • Aaron B. Flaaen & Matthew D. Shapiro & Isaac Sorkin, 2017. "Reconsidering the Consequences of Worker Displacements: Firm versus Worker Perspective," NBER Working Papers 24077, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:24077
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    Cited by:

    1. Minaya, Veronica & Moore, Brendan & Scott-Clayton, Judith, 2023. "The effect of job displacement on public college enrollment: Evidence from Ohio," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    2. Isaac Sorkin, 2018. "Ranking Firms Using Revealed Preference," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 133(3), pages 1331-1393.
    3. Veronica Minaya & Brendan Moore & Judith Scott-Clayton, 2020. "The Effect of Job Displacement on College Enrollment: Evidence from Ohio," NBER Working Papers 27694, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Ana Margarida Fernandes & Joana Silva, 2023. "Adjusting to Transitory Shocks: Worker Impact, Firm Channels, and (Lack of) Income Support," CESifo Working Paper Series 10479, CESifo.
    5. Audoly, Richard & De Pace, Federica & Fella, Giulio, 2022. "Job Ladder, Human Capital, and the Cost of Job Loss," CEPR Discussion Papers 17746, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    6. Patrick Bennett, 2021. "The Work-To-School Transition: Job Displacement and Skill Upgrading among Young High School Dropouts," CESifo Working Paper Series 9417, CESifo.
    7. Carreño Bustos, José Gabo & Huizinga, Harry & Uras, Burak, 2024. "Flexible Labor Contracts, Firm-specific Pay, and Wages," Discussion Paper 2024-010, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    8. Gregor Jarosch, 2023. "Searching for Job Security and the Consequences of Job Loss," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 91(3), pages 903-942, May.
    9. Victoria Gregory & Guido Menzio & David G. Wiczer, 2021. "The Alpha Beta Gamma of the Labor Market," NBER Working Papers 28663, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Rud, Juan-Pablo & Simmons, Michael & Toews, Gerhard & Aragon, Fernando, 2024. "Job displacement costs of phasing out coal," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    11. Serdar Birinci & Youngmin Park & Thomas Pugh & Kurt See, 2023. "Uncovering the Differences among Displaced Workers: Evidence from Canadian Job Separation Records," Working Papers 2023-022, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, revised Oct 2023.
    12. Jarosch, Gregor, 2021. "Searching for Job Security and the Consequences of Job Loss," CEPR Discussion Papers 15814, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    13. William J. Carrington & Bruce Fallick, 2017. "Why Do Earnings Fall with Job Displacement?," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(4), pages 688-722, October.
    14. Kenneth Burdett & Carlos Carrillo-Tudela & Melvyn Coles, 2020. "The Cost of Job Loss," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 87(4), pages 1757-1798.
    15. Duan, Yige & Jost, Oskar & Jost, Ramona, 2022. "Beyond Lost Earnings: The Long-Term Impact of Job Displacement on Workers’ Commuting Behavior," IAB-Discussion Paper 202215, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    16. William J. Carrington, 2015. "Do We Know Why Earnings Fall with Job Displacement? Working Paper: 2015-01," Working Papers 49908, Congressional Budget Office.
    17. Daniel H. Weinberg & John M. Abowd & Robert F. Belli & Noel Cressie & David C. Folch & Scott H. Holan & Margaret C. Levenstein & Kristen M. Olson & Jerome P. Reiter & Matthew D. Shapiro & Jolene Smyth, 2017. "Effects of a Government-Academic Partnership: Has the NSF-Census Bureau Research Network Helped Improve the U.S. Statistical System?," Working Papers 17-59r, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    18. Fang, Tony & Messacar, Derek, 2019. "Voluntary Job Separations and Traditional versus Flexible Workplace Saving Plans: Evidence from Canada," IZA Discussion Papers 12262, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    19. repec:fip:a00001:89433 is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Daniel Fackler & Eva Weigt, 2020. "Who Buffers Income Losses after Job Displacement? The Role of Alternative Income Sources, the Family, and the State," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 34(3), pages 239-276, September.
    21. Pawel Krolikowski, 2018. "Choosing a Control Group for Displaced Workers," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 71(5), pages 1232-1254, October.
    22. William J. Carrington & Bruce Fallick, 2014. "Why Do Earnings Fall with Job Displacement?," Working Papers (Old Series) 1405, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
    23. Brendan Moore & Judith Scott-Clayton, 2019. "The Firm's Role in Displaced Workers' Earnings Losses," NBER Working Papers 26525, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J0 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings

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