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Worker Sorting and Agglomeration Economies

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  • Theodore Papageorgiou

    (Penn State University)

Abstract

This paper argues that larger cities allow workers to find better occupational matches. We introduce a framework where workers are initially uncertain about the quality of their match with each occupation. They can switch occupations within cities at no cost, whereas moving across cities is costly. Larger cities offer workers more options, who in turn become more selective, and, in equilibrium, earn higher wages. Using data from the SIPP, we find support for the setup's implications regarding worker mobility: conditional on wages, workers in metropolitan areas are more likely to switch occupations; they are also less likely to move; the negative effect of metro areas on the moving probability is significantly larger for workers who recently moved there; workers who move and switch occupations experience significant wage gains, whereas moving without occupational switching does not affect wages; workers who move from a metro area continue to earn higher wages in their new location, but only if they do not switch occupations.

Suggested Citation

  • Theodore Papageorgiou, 2011. "Worker Sorting and Agglomeration Economies," 2011 Meeting Papers 660, Society for Economic Dynamics.
  • Handle: RePEc:red:sed011:660
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Luc Bridet & Margaret Leighton, 2015. "The Major Decision: Labor Market Implications of the Timing of Specialization in College," Discussion Paper Series, School of Economics and Finance 201510, School of Economics and Finance, University of St Andrews.
    2. Carlos Carrillo‐Tudela & Ludo Visschers, 2023. "Unemployment and Endogenous Reallocation Over the Business Cycle," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 91(3), pages 1119-1153, May.
    3. Carlino, Gerald & Kerr, William R., 2015. "Agglomeration and Innovation," Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, in: Gilles Duranton & J. V. Henderson & William C. Strange (ed.), Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, edition 1, volume 5, chapter 0, pages 349-404, Elsevier.
    4. Carlino, Gerald & Kerr, William R., 2015. "Agglomeration and Innovation," Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, in: Gilles Duranton & J. V. Henderson & William C. Strange (ed.), Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, edition 1, volume 5, chapter 0, pages 349-404, Elsevier.
    5. Pedros Silos & Eric Smith, 2015. "Human Capital Portfolios," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 18(3), pages 635-652, July.
    6. Fabian Eckert & Conor Walsh & Mads Hejlesen, 2018. "The Return to Big City Experience: Evidence from Danish Refugees," 2018 Meeting Papers 1214, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    7. Papageorgiou, Theodore, 2018. "Large firms and within firm occupational reallocation," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 184-223.
    8. Jan Ruffner & Andrin Spescha, 2018. "The Impact of Clustering on Firm Innovation," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 64(2), pages 176-215.
    9. repec:zbw:bofrdp:2015_027 is not listed on IDEAS

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