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Discount Factor Shocks and Labor Market Dynamics

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  • Julien Albertini
  • Arthur Poirier

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the labor market dynamics in a matching model where fluctuations are driven by movements in the discount factor. A comparison with the standard productivity shock is provided. Movements in the discount factor can be used as a proxy for variations in financial risks, especially the expected payoff from hiring workers. It is shown that the canonical matching model under a very standard calibration is able to generate an important volatility of unemployment and vacancies with respect to output. We estimate the structural model with the two shocks and using the Bayesian methodology. The bulk of variations in unemployment and vacancies is mainly explained by disturbances pertaining to the discount factor. Productivity shocks account for most of the historical output variations but the discount factor plays a more important role over the last two decades.

Suggested Citation

  • Julien Albertini & Arthur Poirier, 2014. "Discount Factor Shocks and Labor Market Dynamics," SFB 649 Discussion Papers SFB649DP2014-033, Sonderforschungsbereich 649, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:hum:wpaper:sfb649dp2014-033
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Julien Prat & Boyan Jovanovic, 2015. "Reputation Cycles," 2015 Meeting Papers 971, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    2. Julien Albertini & Arthur Poirier, 2015. "Unemployment Benefit Extension at the Zero Lower Bound," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 18(4), pages 733-751, October.
    3. Yannic Stucki & Jacqueline Thomet, 2018. "The effects of firing costs on employment and hours per employee," Diskussionsschriften dp1820, Universitaet Bern, Departement Volkswirtschaft.
    4. Armando Näf & Yannic Stucki & Jacqueline Thomet, 2022. "The Effects of Firing Costs on Labour Market Dynamics," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 89(354), pages 461-488, April.
    5. Julien Albertini & Arthur Poirier, 2015. "Unemployment Benefit Extension at the Zero Lower Bound," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 18(4), pages 733-751, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Search and matching; discount factor shock; Bayesian estimation; unemployment volatility puzzle.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E3 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles
    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers

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