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Lifetime Labor Supply in a Search Model of Unemployment

Author

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  • Leon J.H. Bettendorf

    (OCFEB, Erasmus University Rotterdam)

  • D. Peter Broer

    (OCFEB, Erasmus University Rotterdam)

Abstract

This paper investigates the age-dependency of participation andunemployment by integrating job search with intertemporal optimizing behaviorof finitely-lived households. We find that search frictions and tax ratesdistort the decisions of older workers to a much larger extent than that ofyoung workers. This finding provides an explanation of the observed fall ofparticipation rates of elder workers as a result of the post-war increase intax rates and replacement rates. We show that the age pattern of searchunemployment does not match observed unemployment and we propose a new conceptof 'voluntary' unemployment that agrees well with observations.

Suggested Citation

  • Leon J.H. Bettendorf & D. Peter Broer, 2003. "Lifetime Labor Supply in a Search Model of Unemployment," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 03-032/2, Tinbergen Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20030032
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Batyra & David de la Croix & Olivier Pierrard & Henri Sneessens, 2016. "Structural changes in the labor market and the rise of early retirement in Europe," DEM Discussion Paper Series 16-13, Department of Economics at the University of Luxembourg.
    2. Arnaud Chéron & Jean-Olivier Hairault & François Langot, 2013. "Life-Cycle Equilibrium Unemployment," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 31(4), pages 843-882.
    3. Berangere Legendre & Annaig-C. Pedrant & Mareva Sabatier, 2018. "Should I stay or should I go? An econometric analysis of retirement decisions by couples," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(53), pages 5814-5829, November.
    4. Jean-Olivier Hairault & François Langot & Thepthida Sopraseuth, 2010. "Distance to Retirement and The Job Search of Older Workers: The Case For Delaying Retirement Age," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) hal-00517107, HAL.
    5. Jean-Olivier Hairault & Francois Langot & Arnaud Cheron, 2007. "Job creation and job destruction over the life cycle," 2007 Meeting Papers 431, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    6. Mareva Sabatier & Bérangère Legendre, 2017. "The puzzle of older workers’ employment: distance to retirement and health effects," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 38(1), pages 45-61, April.
    7. Stefan Boeters, 2014. "Age-Specific Labour Market Effects of Employment Protection - A numerical approach," CPB Discussion Paper 281.rdf, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    8. Laetitia Challe & Florent Fremigacci & François Langot & Yannick L'Horty & Loic Du Parquet & Pascale Petit, 2015. "Access to employment with age and gender : results of a controlled experiment," Working Papers hal-01292137, HAL.
    9. Sarah Le Duigou & Pierre-Jean Messe, 2017. "Pension reforms, older workers' employment and the role of job separation and finding rates in France," TEPP Working Paper 2017-10, TEPP.
    10. Stefan Boeters, 2016. "Age-Specific Labour Market Effects of Employment Protection: A Numerical Approach," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 48(2), pages 281-305, August.
    11. Batyra, Anna & de la Croix, David & Pierrard, Olivier & Sneessens, Henri R., 2013. "Declining bargaining power of workers and the rise of early retirement in Europe," GIAM Working Papers 13-6, Galatasaray University Economic Research Center.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    search frictions; labor supply; life cycle; unemployment; retirement.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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