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Spatial Wage Disparities: Sorting Matters!

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Author Info
Combes, Pierre-Philippe
Duranton, Gilles
Gobillon, Laurent

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Abstract

Spatial wage disparities can result from spatial differences in the skill composition of the workforce, in non-human endowments, and in local interactions. To distinguish between these explanations, we estimate a model of wage determination across local labour markets using a very large panel of French workers. We control for worker characteristics, worker fixed-effects, industry fixed-effects, and the characteristics of the local labour market. Our findings suggest that individual skills account for a large fraction of existing spatial wage disparities with strong evidence of spatial sorting by skills. Interaction effects are mostly driven by the local density of employment. Not controlling for worker heterogeneity biases estimates of agglomeration economies by up to 100%. We also find evidence of various omitted variable biases and reverse causality between agglomeration and high wages. Finally, endowments only appear to play a small role.

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Paper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number 4240.

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Date of creation: Feb 2004
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Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:4240

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Related research
Keywords: local labour market; panel data analysis; sorting; spatial wage disparities;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, and Vacancies - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
R23 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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