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The Impact of Personal Bankruptcy on Labor Supply Decisions

Author

Listed:
  • Daphne Chen

    (Econ One Research)

  • Jake Zhao

    (Peking University)

Abstract

The Chapter 7 bankruptcy code was motivated by the notion of a "fresh start," which was justified in part by the Supreme Court on the grounds that it would encourage work incentives. We ask the question, "how does a fresh start affect labor supply?" This question is explored in the context of a model with job search and bankruptcy choices. The model takes into account both the endogeneity and interdependence of decisions in labor and credit markets. The structural approach allows direct assessment of individuals' labor supply responses given their bankruptcy decisions. We find that Chapter 7 filers on average increase labor supply by 12.3%. (Copyright: Elsevier)

Suggested Citation

  • Daphne Chen & Jake Zhao, 2017. "The Impact of Personal Bankruptcy on Labor Supply Decisions," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 26, pages 40-61, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:issued:14-231
    DOI: 10.1016/j.red.2017.02.004
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    Citations

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    as


    Cited by:

    1. Kyle F Herkenhoff, 2019. "The Impact of Consumer Credit Access on Unemployment," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 86(6), pages 2605-2642.
    2. Wenli Li & Costas Meghir & Florian Oswald, 2022. "Consumer Bankruptcy, Mortgage Default and Labor Supply," NBER Working Papers 29868, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Gordon, Grey, 2017. "Optimal bankruptcy code: A fresh start for some," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 123-149.
    4. Chatterjee, Satyajit & Gordon, Grey, 2012. "Dealing with consumer default: Bankruptcy vs garnishment," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(S), pages 1-16.
    5. Wifo, 2022. "WIFO-Monatsberichte, Heft 12/2022," WIFO Monatsberichte (monthly reports), WIFO, vol. 95(12), December.
    6. Kartik Arthreya & Juan Sanchez & Xuan Tam & Eric Young, 2015. "Labor Market Upheaval, Default Regulation, and Consumer Debt," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 18(1), pages 32-52, January.
    7. Carlos Hatchondo, Juan & Martinez, Leonardo & Sánchez, Juan M., 2015. "Mortgage defaults," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 173-190.
      • Juan Carlos Hatchondo & Leonardo Martinez & Juan M. Sanchez, 2011. "Mortgage defaults," Working Paper 11-05, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
      • Juan Carlos Hatchondo & Leonardo Martinez & Juan M. Sanchez, 2011. "Mortgage defaults," Working Papers 2011-019, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
      • Mr. Leonardo Martinez & Juan Carlos Hatchondo & Mr. Juan M. Sanchez, 2012. "Mortgage Defaults," IMF Working Papers 2012/026, International Monetary Fund.
      • Juan Carlos Hatchondo & Leonardo Martinez & Juan M. Sanchez, 2015. "Mortgage Defaults," CAEPR Working Papers 2015-011, Center for Applied Economics and Policy Research, Department of Economics, Indiana University Bloomington.
    8. Exler, Florian & Tertilt, Michèle, 2020. "Consumer Debt and Default: A Macro Perspective," IZA Discussion Papers 12966, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Don Schlagenhauf & Bryan Noeth & Carlos Garriga, 2015. "Aggregate and Distributional Dynamics of Consumer Credit in the U. S," 2015 Meeting Papers 1095, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    10. Gordon Phillips & Kyle Herkenhoff, 2015. "The Impact of Consumer Credit Constraints on Earnings, Sorting, and Job Finding Rates of Displaced Workers," 2015 Meeting Papers 375, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    11. Exler, Florian, 2015. "Personal bankruptcy and wage garnishment," VfS Annual Conference 2015 (Muenster): Economic Development - Theory and Policy 113219, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    12. Traczynski, Jeffrey, 2020. "Tenancy by the Entirety and the Value of Wealth Insurance for Entrepreneurs," IZA Discussion Papers 13173, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Lee, Ho-Seok & Lim, Byung Hwa, 2023. "Personal bankruptcy and post-bankruptcy liquidity constraint," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    14. Wenli Li & Costas Meghir & Florian Oswald, 2022. "Consumer Bankrupcty, Mortgage Default and Labor Supply," Working Papers hal-03882830, HAL.
    15. Gordon, Grey, 2017. "Optimal bankruptcy code: A fresh start for some," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 123-149.
    16. Exler, Florian, 2015. "Personal bankruptcy and wage garnishment," VfS Annual Conference 2015 (Muenster): Economic Development - Theory and Policy 113219, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    17. Tertilt, Michèle & Exler, Florian, 2020. "Consumer Debt and Default: A Macroeconomic Perspective," CEPR Discussion Papers 14425, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    18. Wenli Li & Costas Meghir & Florian Oswald, 2022. "Consumer Bankrupcty, Mortgage Default and Labor Supply," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03882830, HAL.
    19. Stefan Angel & Philipp Warum, 2022. "Privatkonkurse in Österreich. Institutionen, Entwicklung und Charakteristika seit 1995," WIFO Monatsberichte (monthly reports), WIFO, vol. 95(12), pages 823-837, December.
    20. Kyle F. Herkenhoff, 2012. "Informal unemployment insurance and labor market dynamics," Working Papers 2012-057, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Chapter 7 Bankruptcy; Chapter 13 Bankruptcy; Employment; Labor supply;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • K35 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Personal Bankruptcy Law
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth

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