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Technological Learning And Labor Market Dynamics

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  • Martin Gervais
  • Nir Jaimovich
  • Henry E. Siu
  • Yaniv Yedid‐Levi

Abstract

The search‐and‐matching model of the labor market fails to match two important business cycle facts: (i) a high volatility of unemployment relative to labor productivity, and (ii) a mild correlation between these two variables. We address these shortcomings by focusing on technological learning‐by‐doing: the notion that it takes workers' time using a technology before reaching their full productive potential with it. We consider a novel source of business cycles, namely, fluctuations in the speed of technological learning, and show that a search‐and‐matching model featuring such shocks can account for both facts. Moreover, our model provides a new interpretation of recently discussed “news shocks.”

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Gervais & Nir Jaimovich & Henry E. Siu & Yaniv Yedid‐Levi, 2015. "Technological Learning And Labor Market Dynamics," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 56(1), pages 27-53, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:iecrev:v:56:y:2015:i:1:p:27-53
    DOI: 10.1111/iere.12093
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    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Technological Learning and Labor Market Dynamics
      by Christian Zimmermann in NEP-DGE blog on 2014-01-13 02:40:50

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    Cited by:

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    2. Arindam Banik & Pradip K. Bhaumik, 2018. "The Effects of Exogenous Technological Change on Wage Inequality in Rural India," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 19(6), pages 1515-1537, December.
    3. Sergio A. Lago Alves, 2018. "Monetary Policy, Trend Inflation, and Unemployment Volatility," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 50(4), pages 637-673, June.
    4. Sergio A. Lago Alves, 2012. "Trend Inflation and the Unemployment Volatility Puzzle," Working Papers Series 277, Central Bank of Brazil, Research Department.
    5. Tsasa, Jean-Paul K., 2022. "Labor market volatility in a fully specified RBC search model: An analytical investigation," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    6. Ellen Fitzpatrick & Sedef Akgungor, 2023. "The contribution of social capital on rural livelihoods: Malawi and the Philippines cases," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 70(3), pages 659-679, June.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search

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