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So many rocket scientists, so few marketing clerks: Estimating the effects of economic reform on occupational mobility in Estonia

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  • Campos, Nauro F.
  • Dabusinskas, Aurelijus

Abstract

Why do workers change occupations? This paper investigates occupational mobility and its determinants following a large unexpected shock (communism's collapse in 1989.) Our calculations show that from 1989 to 1995 between 35 and 50% of Estonian workers changed occupations (classified at one- and four-digits, respectively.) Among the main determinants of occupational mobility we find firm tenure, labour market experience and returns to alternative occupations. We investigate the role of gender and ethnicity and find strong results for the former, with mobility mainly driven by push factors for males (returns to current occupations) and by pull factors for females (returns to alternative occupations).

Suggested Citation

  • Campos, Nauro F. & Dabusinskas, Aurelijus, 2009. "So many rocket scientists, so few marketing clerks: Estimating the effects of economic reform on occupational mobility in Estonia," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 261-275, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:poleco:v:25:y:2009:i:2:p:261-275
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    2. Pille Motsmees & Jaan Masso & Raul Eamets, 2013. "The Effect of Migration Experience on Occupational Mobility in Estonia," Discussion Papers 14, Central European Labour Studies Institute (CELSI).
    3. Simona Ferraro & Jaanika Meriküll & Karsten Staehr, 2018. "Minimum wages and the wage distribution in Estonia," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(49), pages 5253-5268, October.
    4. Lehmann, Hartmut & Razzolini, Tiziano & Zaiceva, Anzelika, 2015. "Worker Flows and Labour Market Adjustment during the Great Recession: Evidence from a Large Shock," IZA Discussion Papers 9588, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Jaan Masso & Raul Eamets & Pille Mõtsmees, 2013. "The Effect of Temporary Migration Experience on Occupational Mobility in Estonia," CESifo Working Paper Series 4322, CESifo.
    6. Hartmut Lehmann & Tiziano Razzolini & Anzelika Zaiceva, 2016. "Worker flows and Labour Market Adjustment during the Great Recession: Evidence from a Large Shock," Department of Economics 0083, University of Modena and Reggio E., Faculty of Economics "Marco Biagi".
    7. Jaan Masso & Vladyslav Soloviov & Kerly Espenberg & Inta Mierina, 2019. "Social convergence of the Baltic states within the enlarged EU: Is limited social dialogue an impediment?," Chapters, in: Daniel Vaughan-Whitehead (ed.), Towards Convergence in Europe, chapter 2, pages 35-77, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    8. Fidrmuc, Jarko & Senaj, Matus, 2012. "Human Capital, Consumption, and Housing Wealth in Transition," VfS Annual Conference 2012 (Goettingen): New Approaches and Challenges for the Labor Market of the 21st Century 62058, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    9. Hongbing Li & Hongbo Cai & Suparna Chakraborty, 2019. "Market Access, Labor Mobility, and the Wage Skill Premium: New Evidence from Chinese Cities," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 30(5), pages 947-973, November.
    10. Meriküll, Jaanika & Eamets, Raul & Humal, Katrin & Espenberg, Kerly, 2012. "Power without manpower: Forecasting labour demand for Estonian energy sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 740-750.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Occupational mobility Human capital Transition economies;

    JEL classification:

    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • C41 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Duration Analysis; Optimal Timing Strategies
    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs

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