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How Large Are Firing Costs? A Cross-Country Study

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  • Dennis Wesselbaum

Abstract

This paper provides evidence for the size and the cyclicality of firing costs for the United States and Germany. In contrast to the existing literature, we use the optimality conditions obtained in a search and matching model to find a reduced form equation for firing costs. We find that our estimates are slightly larger compared with other studies and document sizable time-variation in firing costs.

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  • Dennis Wesselbaum, 2020. "How Large Are Firing Costs? A Cross-Country Study," Applied Economics Quarterly (formerly: Konjunkturpolitik), Duncker & Humblot GmbH, Berlin, vol. 66(4), pages 319-328.
    • Handle: RePEc:dah:aeqaeq:v66_y2020_i4_q4_p319-328
    DOI: 10.3790/aeq.66.4.319
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marcelo Veracierto, 2008. "Firing Costs And Business Cycle Fluctuations," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 49(1), pages 1-39, February.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Employment protection; Firing costs; Optimality conditions; Turnover;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes
    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs

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