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Multidimensional Sorting under Random Search

Author

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  • Ilse Lindenlaub
  • Fabien Postel-Vinay

Abstract

We analyze sorting in a frictional labor market when workers and jobs have multidimensional characteristics. We say that matching is positive assortative in dimension (j, k) if workers with higher endowment in skill k are matched to a job distribution with higher values of attribute j in the first-order stochastic dominance sense. Crucial for sorting is a single-crossing property of technology. Sorting is positive between worker-job attributes with strong complementarities but negative in other dimensions. Finally, sorting is based on comparative advantage: workers sort into jobs that suit their skill mix rather than their overall skill level.

Suggested Citation

  • Ilse Lindenlaub & Fabien Postel-Vinay, 2023. "Multidimensional Sorting under Random Search," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 131(12), pages 3497-3539.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/725362
    DOI: 10.1086/725362
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    Cited by:

    1. James J. Heckman, 2019. "The Race Between Demand and Supply: Tinbergen’s Pioneering Studies of Earnings Inequality," De Economist, Springer, vol. 167(3), pages 243-258, September.
    2. Lavetti, Kurt & Schmutte, Ian M., 2023. "Gender differences in sorting on wages and risk," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 233(2), pages 507-523.
    3. Katarína Borovičková & Robert Shimer, 2017. "High Wage Workers Work for High Wage Firms," NBER Working Papers 24074, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Xie, Da & Zhang, Min & Bing, Pijing, 2025. "Manual task intensity and male-female wage gap: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    5. Benjamin Lochner & Bastian Schulz, 2024. "Firm Productivity, Wages, and Sorting," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 42(1), pages 85-119.
    6. Paula Calvo & Ilse Lindenlaub & Ana Reynoso, 2024. "Marriage Market and Labour Market Sorting," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 91(6), pages 3316-3361.
    7. Faberman, Jason & Mueller, Andreas & Sahin, Aysegül, 2026. "Job Search, Job Amenities, and the Gender Pay Gap," IZA Discussion Papers 18418, IZA Network @ LISER.
    8. Xiao, Pengpeng, 2021. "Wage and Employment Discrimination by Gender in Labor Market Equilibrium," Working Papers 144, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    9. Jerez, Belén, 2017. "Competitive search equilibrium with multidimensional heterogeneity and two-sided ex-ante investments," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 202-219.
    10. Lukas B. Freund, 2025. "Superstar Teams," CESifo Working Paper Series 12303, CESifo.
    11. Bachmann, Rüdiger & Bayer, Christian & Merkl, Christian & Seth, Stefan & Stüber, Heiko & Wellschmied, Felix, 2021. "Worker churn in the cross section and over time: New evidence from Germany," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 781-797.
    12. Alex Xi He & John Kennes & Daniel le Maire, 2018. "Complementarity and Advantage in the Competing Auctions of Skills," Economics Working Papers 2018-10, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.
    13. Vereshchagina, Galina, 2019. "The role of individual financial contributions in the formation of entrepreneurial teams," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 173-193.

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