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Technology Boom, Labor Reallocation, and Human Capital Depreciation

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  • Hombert, Johan
  • Matray, Adrien

Abstract

Using matched employer-employee data from France, we uncover an "ICT boom-cohort discount" on the long-term wage of the large cohort of skilled workers entering in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector during the late 1990s technology boom. Despite starting with 5% higher wages, these workers experience lower wage growth and end up with 6% lower wages fifteen years out, relative to similar workers who started outside the ICT sector. Other moments of the wage distribution are inconsistent with selection effects. These workers accumulate human capital early in their career that rapidly depreciates, implying that labor reallocation during technology booms can have long-lasting effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Hombert, Johan & Matray, Adrien, 2019. "Technology Boom, Labor Reallocation, and Human Capital Depreciation," CEPR Discussion Papers 14136, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:14136
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    1. Katovich, Erik & Parker, Dominic & Poelhekke, Steven, 2023. "Timing is Everything: Labor Market Winners and Losers during Boom-Bust Cycles," CEPR Discussion Papers 17887, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity

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