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Formal Search And Referrals From A Firm'S Perspective

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  • Martina Rebien
  • Michael Stops
  • Anna Zaharieva

Abstract

We explore the relationship between firms' characteristics and recruitment strategies. We present a theoretical search model with two search channels: a costly formal channel and a costless informal channel (referrals). We empirically test the model predictions and find that: larger firms search more formally; firms search more formally for high‐skilled workers; the positive relationship between firm's size and formal search intensity also holds for firms not using referrals; firms using referrals invest less into formal search compared to firms not using referrals; larger firms hire less often by referrals than smaller firms; and larger search effort leads to more applicants.

Suggested Citation

  • Martina Rebien & Michael Stops & Anna Zaharieva, 2020. "Formal Search And Referrals From A Firm'S Perspective," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 61(4), pages 1679-1748, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:iecrev:v:61:y:2020:i:4:p:1679-1748
    DOI: 10.1111/iere.12477
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    Cited by:

    1. Matteo Cacciatore & Giuseppe Fiori & Nora Traum, 2020. "Hours and Employment Over the Business Cycle: A Structural Analysis," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 35, pages 240-262, January.
    2. Brändle, Tobias & Grunau, Philipp & Haylock, Michael & Kampkötter, Patrick, 2020. "Recruitment strategies and match quality - New evidence from representative linked employer-employee data," University of Tübingen Working Papers in Business and Economics 134, University of Tuebingen, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, School of Business and Economics.
    3. Neugart, Michael & Zaharieva, Anna, 2018. "Social Networks, Promotions, and the Glass-Ceiling Effect," Center for Mathematical Economics Working Papers 601, Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University.
    4. Zainab Iftikhar & Anna Zaharieva, 2019. "General equilibrium effects of immigration in Germany: Search and matching approach," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 31, pages 245-276, January.
    5. Alaverdyan, Sevak & Zaharieva, Anna, 2022. "Immigration, social networks and occupational mismatch," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    6. Hensel, Lukas & Tekleselassie, Tsegay & Witte, Marc J., 2021. "Formalized Employee Search and Labor Demand," IZA Discussion Papers 14839, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Mario Bossler & Nicole Gürtzgen & Alexander Kubis & Benjamin Küfner & Benjamin Lochner, 2020. "The IAB Job Vacancy Survey: design and research potential," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 54(1), pages 1-12, December.
    8. Schierholz, Malte & Brenner, Lorraine & Cohausz, Lea & Damminger, Lisa & Fast, Lisa & Hörig, Ann-Kathrin & Huber, Anna-Lena & Ludwig, Theresa & Petry, Annabell & Tschischka, Laura, 2018. "Eine Hilfsklassifikation mit Tätigkeitsbeschreibungen für Zwecke der Berufskodierung : Leitgedanken und Dokumentation," IAB-Discussion Paper 201813, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    9. Moon, Ji-Woong, 2023. "Strategic referrals and on-the-job search equilibrium," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 135-151.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • 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

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