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Search Equilibrium, Production Parameters and Social Returns to Education: Theory and Estimation

Author

Listed:
  • Andrey Launov
  • Christian Holzner

    (Social Policy and Labor Markets IFOInstitute for Economic Research)

Abstract

We introduce different skill groups and production functions into the Burdett-Mortensen equilibrium search model. Supermodularity in the production process leads to a positive intrafirm wage correlation between skill groups. Theory implies that increasing returns to scale can lead to a unimodal earnings density with a decreasing right tail even in the absence of productivity dispersion. Our empirical results indicate economy-wide increasing returns to scale. We use the structural estimates of the production parameters to investigate whether private returns toeducation equal social returns. Our estimates suggest a positive welfare effect from increasing the share of medium-skilled agents in the workforce.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Andrey Launov & Christian Holzner, 2005. "Search Equilibrium, Production Parameters and Social Returns to Education: Theory and Estimation," 2005 Meeting Papers 604, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed005:604
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Garloff, Alfred, 2008. "Minimum wages, wage dispersion and unemployment : a review on new search models," IAB-Discussion Paper 200833, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Search; wage correlation; social returns to education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search

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