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Zero-hours contracts and labour market policy

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  • Nikhil Datta
  • Giulia Giupponi
  • Stephen Machin

Abstract

SUMMARYThe evolving nature of atypical work arrangements is studied. A particular focus is placed on one such form of work relation: zero-hours contracts (ZHCs). The paper uses existing secondary data and new survey data collected for the specific purpose of studying alternative work arrangements to describe the nature of ZHC work in the UK labour market. The interaction with labour market policy is explored, in the context of the 2016 introduction of the UK's National Living Wage. ZHC work is shown to be an important feature of today's work arrangements, and the wage cost shock induced by the new, higher minimum wage resulted in an increased use of ZHCs in the UK social care sector, and in low wage sectors more generally.

Suggested Citation

  • Nikhil Datta & Giulia Giupponi & Stephen Machin, 2019. "Zero-hours contracts and labour market policy," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 34(99), pages 369-427.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:ecpoli:v:34:y:2019:i:99:p:369-427.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/epolic/eiz008
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    3. Haapanala, Henri & Marx, Ive & Parolin, Zachary, 2022. "Decent Wage Floors in Europe: Does the Minimum Wage Directive Get It Right?," IZA Discussion Papers 15660, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Dolado, Juan J. & Lalé, Etienne & Turon, Hélène, 2021. "Zero-Hours Contracts in a Frictional Labor Market," IZA Discussion Papers 14979, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Emiel van Bezooijen & Wiljan van den Berge & Anna Salomons, 2024. "The Young Bunch: Youth Minimum Wages and Labor Market Outcomes," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 77(3), pages 428-460, May.
    6. Datta, Nikhil, 2019. "Willing to pay for security: a discrete choice experiment to analyse labour supply preferences," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 103390, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Shafik, Minouche, 2021. "Capitalism needs a new social contract," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 112213, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. Egidio Farina & Colin Green & Duncan McVicar, 2021. "Are Estimates of Non‐Standard Employment Wage Penalties Robust to Different Wage Measures? The Case of Zero‐hour Contracts in the UK," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(3), pages 370-399, July.
    9. Nikhil Datta & Stephen Machin, 2021. "Living wages and age discontinuities for low-wage workers," CEP Discussion Papers dp1803, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    10. Ganserer, Angelika & Gregory, Terry & Zierahn, Ulrich, 2022. "Minimum Wages and the Rise in Solo Self-Employment," IZA Discussion Papers 15283, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Christopher T. Stanton & Catherine Thomas, 2020. "The Gig Economy Beyond Local Services and Transportation," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 21(03), pages 21-26, September.
    12. Olena Kostyshyna & Etienne Lalé, 2022. "On the evolution of multiple jobholding in Canada," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 55(2), pages 1095-1134, May.
    13. Datta, Nikhil & Machin, Stephen, 2024. "Government Contracting and Living Wages > Minimum Wages," IZA Discussion Papers 17117, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    14. Nikhil Datta, 2019. "Willing to pay for security: a discrete choice experiment to analyse labour supply preferences," CEP Discussion Papers dp1632, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    15. Minouche Shafik, 2021. "Capitalism needs a new social contract [‘Does the US Tax Code Favor Automation?’]," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 37(4), pages 758-772.
    16. Tito Boeri & Giulia Giupponi & Alan B. Krueger & Stephen Machin, 2020. "Solo Self-Employment and Alternative Work Arrangements: A Cross-Country Perspective on the Changing Composition of Jobs," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 34(1), pages 170-195, Winter.
    17. Nikhil Datta, 2023. "The measure of monopsony: the labour supply elasticity to the firm and its constituents," CEP Discussion Papers dp1930, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    18. Brian Bell & Mihai Codreanu & Stephen Machin, 2020. "What can previous recessions tell us about the Covid-19 downturn?," CEP Covid-19 Analyses cepcovid-19-007, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    19. Adams-Prassl, Abi & Balgova, Maria & Qian, Matthias, 2020. "Flexible Work Arrangements in Low Wage Jobs: Evidence from Job Vacancy Data," IZA Discussion Papers 13691, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    20. Karen Jaehrling & Thorsten Kalina, 2020. "‘Grey zones’ within dependent employment: formal and informal forms of on-call work in Germany," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 26(4), pages 447-463, November.
    21. Innocenti, Stefania & Golin, Marta, 2022. "Human capital investment and perceived automation risks: Evidence from 16 countries," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 27-41.
    22. Stephen Machin, 2024. "Real wages, inequality and living standards," CEP Election Analysis Papers 066, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    23. Adams-Prassl, Abigail & Balgova, Maria & Qian, Matthias, 2020. "Flexible Work Arrangements in Low Wage Jobs: Evidence from Job Vacancy Data," CEPR Discussion Papers 15263, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    24. Datta, Nikhil, 2023. "The measure of monopsony: the labour supply elasticity to the firm and its constituents," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 121312, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    J31; J32; J81;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions

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