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On-the-job Search and the Productivity-Wage Gap

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  • Acharya, Sushant
  • Wee, Shu Lin

Abstract

We examine how worker and firm on-the-job search have differential impacts on the productivity-wage gap. While an increase in both worker and firm on-the-job search raise productivity, they have opposing effects on wages. Increased worker on-the-job search raises workers' outside options, allowing them to demand higher wages. Increased firm on-the-job search improves firms' bargaining position relative to workers' by raising job insecurity and the wedge between hiring and meeting rates. This allows firms to pass-through a smaller share of productivity to wages, enlarging the productivity-wage gap. Quantitatively, the model can account for the observed widening US productivity-wage gap over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Acharya, Sushant & Wee, Shu Lin, 2020. "On-the-job Search and the Productivity-Wage Gap," CEPR Discussion Papers 14430, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:14430
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    1. Tanaka, Satoshi & Warren, Lawrence & Wiczer, David, 2023. "Earnings growth, job flows and churn," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 86-98.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    On-the-job search; Replacement hiring; Productivity-wage gap; Unemployment; Labor share;
    All these keywords.

    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
    • 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

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