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A Statistical Analysis of Heterogeneity on Labour Markets and Unemployment Rates in Colombia

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  • Camilo Alberto Cárdenas Hurtado
  • María Alejandra Hernández Montes
  • Jhon Edwar Torres Gorron

Abstract

In this paper, we study the structural factors that determine the differences in unemployment rates and in labour market performance for Colombian cities. Using cross-sectional data for 23 metropolitan areas, we apply an extension of a principal axes method—Multiple Factor Analysis for Multiple Contingency Tables (MFACT)—in order to identify unobservable factors that are relevant when disentangling the heterogeneity observed among groups of variables considered explanatory of regional unemployment differentials. Our findings suggest that differences in qualified labour supply levels, participation incentives and age structure are important when it comes to understanding regional heterogeneity in terms of labour markets and unemployment rates in Colombia. In addition, clustering methods reveal that cities that display high unemployment rates do not necessarily share the same structural characteristics; that is, labour market frictions that give rise to unemployment are not the same across Colombian cities.

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  • Camilo Alberto Cárdenas Hurtado & María Alejandra Hernández Montes & Jhon Edwar Torres Gorron, 2015. "A Statistical Analysis of Heterogeneity on Labour Markets and Unemployment Rates in Colombia," Revista Desarrollo y Sociedad, Universidad de los Andes,Facultad de Economía, CEDE, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:col:000090:013541
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    Cited by:

    1. Enrique López-Bazo & Juan C. Duque & Gustavo A. García & Paula Herrera-Idágarra, 2015. "Heterogeneidad regional en las diferencias por género en las tasas de desempleo en Colombia," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 89037, Inter-American Development Bank.
    2. Luis E. Arango & Luz A. Flórez & María A. Olarte-Delgado, 2019. "Precio del carbón y dinámica laboral en Valledupar," Revista de Economía del Rosario, Universidad del Rosario, vol. 22(2), pages 313-370, December.
    3. Luis Eduardo Arango & Gabriela Bonilla, 2015. "Human capital agglomeration and social returns to education in Colombia," Borradores de Economia 12788, Banco de la Republica.
    4. Arango, Luis E. & Castellani, Francesca & Obando, Nataly, 2019. "Heterogeneous labour demand in the Colombian manufacturing sector," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 53(1), pages 1-1.
    5. Luis Eduardo Arango & Ana María Ríos, 2015. "Duración del desempleo en Colombia: género, intensidad de búsqueda y anuncios de vacantes," BORRADORES DE ECONOMIA 012528, BANCO DE LA REPÚBLICA.
    6. Ham Andrés & Maldonado Darío & Guzmán-Gutiérrez Carlos Santiago, 2021. "Recent trends in the youth labor market in Colombia: Diagnosis and policy challenges," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 11(1), pages 1-62, January.
    7. Luis E. Arango & Luz A. Flórez, 2020. "Determinants of structural unemployment in Colombia: a search approach," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 58(5), pages 2431-2464, May.
    8. Luis E. Arango & Luz A. Flórez, 2017. "Informalidad laboral y elementos para un salario mínimo diferencial por regiones en Colombia," Borradores de Economia 1023, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    9. Luis Eduardo Arango & Ana María Ríos, 2015. "Duración del desempleo en Colombia: género, intensidad de búsqueda y anuncios de vacantes," Borradores de Economia 866, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    10. Luis E. Arango & Francesca Castellani & Nataly Obando, 2016. "It is mainly about where you work! Labor demand in the Colombian manufacturing sector," Borradores de Economia 933, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    11. Luis E. Arango & Francesca Castellani & Nataly Obando, 2016. "It is mainly about where you work! Labor demand in the Colombian manufacturing sector," Borradores de Economia 933, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    12. Cristina Fernández, 2019. "Empleo y emprendimiento en Bogotá," Informes de Investigación 17931, Fedesarrollo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Heterogeneous unemployment rates; regional labour markets; factor analysis.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population
    • J40 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - General

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