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Labor market search effort with reference-dependent preferences

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  • Damgaard, Mette Trier

Abstract

We incorporate forward-looking reference-dependent preferences into a simple job search framework and show that people with strong aversion to losses may choose not to search for a job despite economic incentives to do so. We also discuss the policy implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Damgaard, Mette Trier, 2017. "Labor market search effort with reference-dependent preferences," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 99-101.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:156:y:2017:i:c:p:99-101
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2017.04.016
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Arni, Patrick & Schiprowski, Amelie, 2015. "The Effects of Binding and Non-Binding Job Search Requirements," IZA Discussion Papers 8951, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    7. Pissarides, Christopher A, 1974. "Risk, Job Search, and Income Distribution," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 82(6), pages 1255-1267, Nov.-Dec..
    8. Daniel Kahneman & Amos Tversky, 2013. "Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision Under Risk," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Leonard C MacLean & William T Ziemba (ed.), HANDBOOK OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING Part I, chapter 6, pages 99-127, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
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    10. Lawrence F. Katz & Bruce D. Meyer, 1990. "Unemployment Insurance, Recall Expectations, and Unemployment Outcomes," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 105(4), pages 973-1002.
    11. David E. Bell, 1985. "Disappointment in Decision Making Under Uncertainty," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 33(1), pages 1-27, February.
    12. Graham Loomes & Robert Sugden, 1986. "Disappointment and Dynamic Consistency in Choice under Uncertainty," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 53(2), pages 271-282.
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    Cited by:

    1. Damgaard, Mette T. & Sydnor, Justin, 2019. "Applying for jobs in the lab: The effect of risk attitudes and reference points," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 165-179.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Job search; Loss aversion; Search effort; Stochastic reference point;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search

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