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Labor Mobility in Bolivia: On-the-job Search Behavior of Private and Public Sector Employees

Author

Listed:
  • Lykke E. Andersen

    (Institute for Advanced Development Studies)

  • Bent Jesper Christensen

    (University of Aarhus)

Abstract

This paper estimates structural parameters of both a simple and an extended job separation model with the purpose of understanding constraints in the labor market in Bolivia. The results confirm the hypothesis that skilled labor is a scarce commodity in Bolivia, while unskilled labor is abundantly available. This implies that skilled employees shop around for alternative employment opportunities and quit their jobs when a better opportunity arises. The quit rate among skilled employees in the private sector is much higher than the quit rate among skilled employees in the public sector. The reverse is true for the lay-off rate, and together this suggests that the private sector has difficulties maintaining its skilled labor. The estimates of the wage sensitivity of job search effort parameters presented in this paper suggest that it would be difficult for the private sector to improve its capacity to retain skilled employees by increasing wages – skilled employees in the private sector do not seem to reduce their on-the-job search in response to higher wages. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the public sector in Bolivia, inflated by high levels of foreign aid (about 10% of GDP), may be detracting scarce human resources from local productive sectors, potentially jeopardizing the opportunity for sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Lykke E. Andersen & Bent Jesper Christensen, 2006. "Labor Mobility in Bolivia: On-the-job Search Behavior of Private and Public Sector Employees," Development Research Working Paper Series 01/2006, Institute for Advanced Development Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:adv:wpaper:200601
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    File URL: http://www.inesad.edu.bo/pdf/wp01_2006.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bent Jesper Christensen & Rasmus Lentz & Dale T. Mortensen & George R. Neumann & Axel Werwatz, 2005. "On-the-Job Search and the Wage Distribution," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 23(1), pages 31-58, January.
    2. Lykke Eg Andersen & José Luis Evia V, 2003. "The Effectiveness of Foreign Aid in Bolivia," Documentos de trabajo 10/2003, Instituto de Investigaciones Socio-Económicas (IISEC), Universidad Católica Boliviana.
    3. Székely, Miguel & Birdsall, Nancy & Behrman, Jere R., 2000. "Economics Reform and Wage Differentials in Latin America," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 1332, Inter-American Development Bank.
    4. Harris, John R & Todaro, Michael P, 1970. "Migration, Unemployment & Development: A Two-Sector Analysis," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 60(1), pages 126-142, March.
    5. Mazumdar, Dipak, 1983. "Segmented Labor Markets in LDCs," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 73(2), pages 254-259, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Calle Sarmiento, Angélica del Carmen, 2024. "Labor market transitions in Bolivia during the Covid-19 pandemic," Latin American Journal of Central Banking (previously Monetaria), Elsevier, vol. 5(2).
    2. Lykke E. Andersen & Beatriz Muriel, 2007. "Informality and Productivity in Bolivia: A Gender Differentiated Empirical Analysis," Development Research Working Paper Series 07/2007, Institute for Advanced Development Studies.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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