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Plant-level employment development before collective displacements: Comparing mass layoffs, plant closures, and bankruptcies

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  • Fackler, Daniel
  • Müller, Steffen
  • Stegmaier, Jens

Abstract

To assess to what extent collective job displacements can be regarded as unanticipated exogenous shocks for affected employees, we analyze plant-level employment patterns before bankruptcy, plant closure without bankruptcy, and mass layoff. Utilizing administrative data covering all West German private sector plants, we find no systematic employment reductions prior to mass layoffs, a strong and long-lasting reduction prior to closures, and a much shorter shadow of death preceding bankruptcy. Our analysis of worker flows underlines that bankruptcies seem to struggle for survival while closures follow a shrinking strategy. We conclude that the scope of worker anticipation of upcoming job loss is smallest for mass layoffs and largest for closures without bankruptcy.

Suggested Citation

  • Fackler, Daniel & Müller, Steffen & Stegmaier, Jens, 2016. "Plant-level employment development before collective displacements: Comparing mass layoffs, plant closures, and bankruptcies," IWH Discussion Papers 27/2016, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:iwhdps:272016
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    Cited by:

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    2. Fackler, Daniel & Müller, Steffen & Stegmaier, Jens, 2017. "Explaining wage losses after job displacement: Employer size and lost firm rents," IWH Discussion Papers 32/2017, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
    3. Fackler, Daniel & Stegmaier, Jens & Upward, Richard, 2023. "Safety net or helping hand? The effect of job search assistance and compensation on displaced workers," IWH Discussion Papers 18/2023, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
    4. Garcia-Louzao, Jose, 2022. "Workers’ job mobility in response to severance pay generosity," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    5. Fackler, Daniel & Stegmaier, Jens & Weigt, Eva, 2019. "Does extended unemployment benefit duration ameliorate the negative employment effects of job loss?," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 123-138.
    6. Atkins, Ryan & Favreau, Charles, 2022. "The effects of layoffs and plant closings on manufacturers’ market value," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    7. Meekes, Jordy & Hassink, Wolter, 2020. "Fired and Pregnant: Gender Differences in Job Flexibility Outcomes after Job Loss," IZA Discussion Papers 13779, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Sverre J. Herstad & Tore Sandven, 2020. "A closer look at the relationship between innovation and employment growth at the firm level," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 30(2), pages 375-399, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    job displacement; shadow of death; plant closure; bankruptcy; mass layoff;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings
    • L2 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior

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