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Technological Learning and Labor Market Dynamics

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Listed:
  • Martin Gervais
  • Nir Jaimovich
  • Henry E. Siu
  • Yaniv Yedid-Levi

Abstract

The search-and-matching model of the labor market fails to match two important business cycle facts: (i) a high volatility of unemployment relative to labor productivity, and (ii) a mild correlation between these two variables. We address these shortcomings by focusing on technological learning-by-doing: the notion that it takes workers time using a technology before reaching their full productive potential with it. We consider a novel source of business cycles, namely, fluctuations in the speed of technological learning and show that a search-and-matching model featuring such shocks can account for both facts. Moreover, our model provides a new interpretation of recently discussed "news shocks."

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Gervais & Nir Jaimovich & Henry E. Siu & Yaniv Yedid-Levi, 2013. "Technological Learning and Labor Market Dynamics," NBER Working Papers 19767, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:19767
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    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Technological Learning and Labor Market Dynamics
      by Christian Zimmermann in NEP-DGE blog on 2014-01-13 02:40:50

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    Cited by:

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    2. Arindam Banik & Pradip K. Bhaumik, 2018. "The Effects of Exogenous Technological Change on Wage Inequality in Rural India," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 19(6), pages 1515-1537, December.
    3. Sergio A. Lago Alves, 2018. "Monetary Policy, Trend Inflation, and Unemployment Volatility," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 50(4), pages 637-673, June.
    4. Sergio A. Lago Alves, 2012. "Trend Inflation and the Unemployment Volatility Puzzle," Working Papers Series 277, Central Bank of Brazil, Research Department.
    5. Tsasa, Jean-Paul K., 2022. "Labor market volatility in a fully specified RBC search model: An analytical investigation," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    6. Ellen Fitzpatrick & Sedef Akgungor, 2023. "The contribution of social capital on rural livelihoods: Malawi and the Philippines cases," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 70(3), pages 659-679, June.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search

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