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The Effect of Labor Market Shocks across the Life Cycle

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  • Kjell G. Salvanes
  • Barton Willage
  • Alexander Willén

Abstract

Economic shocks occur frequently and may cause individuals to reevaluate key life decisions in ways that have lasting consequences for themselves and the broader economy. These decisions are tied to life stages, and the effect of economic shocks may differ depending on when they occur. We exploit exogenous job separations to study the impact of adverse shocks across the life cycle on labor market outcomes and major life decisions: education, mobility, family structure, and retirement. We find significant heterogeneity across the life cycle and conclude that focusing on average effects among workers across the life cycle misses a great deal.

Suggested Citation

  • Kjell G. Salvanes & Barton Willage & Alexander Willén, 2024. "The Effect of Labor Market Shocks across the Life Cycle," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 42(1), pages 121-160.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/722086
    DOI: 10.1086/722086
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    Cited by:

    1. Peter Levell & Matthias Parey & Aitor Irastorza-Fadrique, 2023. "Household responses to trade shocks," IFS Working Papers W23/13, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    2. Pedro Carneiro & Kjell Salvanes & Barton Willage & Alexander Willén, 2023. "Childhood Shocks Across Ages and Human Capital Formation," Working Papers 2023-018, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    3. Ria Ivandic & Anne Sophie Lassen, 2023. "Gender Gaps From Labor Market Shocks," Upjohn Working Papers 23-387, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
    4. Bingley, Paul & Cappellari, Lorenzo & Ovidi, Marco, 2023. "When It Hurts the Most: Timing of Parental Job Loss and a Child's Education," IZA Discussion Papers 16367, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Samuel Dodini & Kjell G. Salvanes & Alexander Willén & Li Zhu & Alexander L.P. Willén, 2023. "The Career Effects of Union Membership," CESifo Working Paper Series 10469, CESifo.
    6. Carneiro, Pedro & Salvanes, Kjell G. & Willage, Barton & Willén, Alexander, 2022. "The Timing of Parental Job Displacement, Child Development and Family Adjustment," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 12/2022, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    7. Ivandić, Ria & Lassen, Anne Sophie, 2023. "Gender gaps from labor market shocks," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs

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