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Why do New Englanders work so much?

Author

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  • Lynn E. Browne

Abstract

Because of the softening of the New England economy in the past two years, the availability of labor has become a less pressing issue for New England businesses. However, projections of slower growth in the working-age population in the 1990s, attributable to changes in the age structure, hold out the possibility of tight labor markets and difficulties finding suitable workers in the future. ; This article focuses on the fraction of the working-age population that chooses to work, called the participation rate, and its responsiveness to economic conditions. New England has had persistently high participation rates despite a relatively large population over age sixtyfive. Although regional variations in participation have been remarkably durable, the author finds that participation rates do tend to respond positively to favorable economic conditions and to some extent at least, a strong demand for labor creates its own supply.

Suggested Citation

  • Lynn E. Browne, 1990. "Why do New Englanders work so much?," New England Economic Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, issue Mar, pages 33-46.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedbne:y:1990:i:mar:p:33-46
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    File URL: http://www.bostonfed.org/economic/neer/neer1990/neer290c.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Goldin, Claudia, 1989. "Life-Cycle Labor-Force Participation of Married Women: Historical Evidence and Implications," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 7(1), pages 20-47, January.
    2. Cain, Glen G & Dooley, Martin D, 1976. "Estimation of a Model of Labor Supply, Fertility, and Wages of Married Women," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 84(4), pages 179-199, August.
    3. Jacob Mincer, 1962. "Labor Force Participation of Married Women: A Study of Labor Supply," NBER Chapters, in: Aspects of Labor Economics, pages 63-105, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Ben-Porath, Yoram, 1973. "Labor-Force Participation Rates and the Supply of Labor," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 81(3), pages 697-704, May-June.
    5. Duran Bell, 1974. "Why Participation Rates of Black and White Wives Differ," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 9(4), pages 465-479.
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    2. El-Osta, Hisham S. & Ahearn, Mary Clare, 1996. "Estimating the Opportunity Cost of Unpaid Farm Labor for U.S. Farm Operators," Technical Bulletins 156784, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

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    Keywords

    Labor market; New England;

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