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The Effect of Search Frictions on Wages

Author

Listed:
  • Van den Berg, Gerard
  • van Vuuren, Aico

Abstract

Labour market theories allowing for search frictions make marked predictions on the effect of the degree of frictions on wages. Often, the effect is predicted to be negative. Despite the popularity of these theories, this has never been tested. We perform tests with matched worker-firm data. The worker data are informative on individual wages and labour market transitions, and this allows for estimation of the degree of search frictions. The firm data are informative on labour productivity. The matched data provide the skill composition in different markets. Together this allows us to investigate how the mean difference between labour productivity and wages in a market depends on the degree of frictions and other determinants. We correct for worker self-selection into high-wage jobs. Using within-market variation, we also investigate the extent of (and explanations for) positive assortative matching.

Suggested Citation

  • Van den Berg, Gerard & van Vuuren, Aico, 2003. "The Effect of Search Frictions on Wages," CEPR Discussion Papers 3979, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:3979
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    Cited by:

    1. Philipp Ehrl, 2014. "High-wage workers and high-productivity firms - a regional view on matching in Germany," Working Papers 149, Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics (BGPE).
    2. Jeremy Lise & Costas Meghir & Jean-Marc Robin, 2013. "Mismatch, Sorting and Wage Dynamics," NBER Working Papers 18719, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/6ggbvnr6munghes9od0s108ro is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Pieter Gautier & Paul Muller & Bas van der Klaauw & Michael Rosholm & Michael Svarer, 2018. "Estimating Equilibrium Effects of Job Search Assistance," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 36(4), pages 1073-1125.
    5. Paulo Guimarães & Pedro Portugal & Sónia Torres, 2013. "The sources of wage variation: a three-way high-dimensional fixed effects regression model," Working Papers w201309, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
    6. repec:hal:journl:hal-01070442 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Garloff, Alfred, 2010. "Minimum wages, wage dispersion and unemployment in search models : a review," Zeitschrift für ArbeitsmarktForschung - Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 43(2), pages 145-167.
    8. repec:spo:wpecon:info:hdl:2441/6ggbvnr6munghes9od0s108ro is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Picchio, Matteo & van Ours, Jan C., 2011. "Market imperfections and firm-sponsored training," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(5), pages 712-722, October.
    10. Webber, Douglas A., 2015. "Firm market power and the earnings distribution," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 123-134.
    11. Garloff Alfred & Fitzenberger Bernd, 2007. "Labor Market Transitions and the Wage Structure in Germany," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 227(2), pages 115-152, April.
    12. Garloff, Alfred, 2003. "Lohndispersion und Arbeitslosigkeit: Neuere Ansätze in der Suchtheorie," ZEW Discussion Papers 03-60, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    13. Garloff, Alfred, 2010. "Minimum wages, wage dispersion and unemployment in search models : a review," Zeitschrift für ArbeitsmarktForschung - Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 43(2), pages 145-167.
    14. Daniel R. Ringo, 2021. "Home ownership as a labor market friction," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 49(S1), pages 111-133, March.
    15. Weinstein, Russell, 2018. "Employer screening costs, recruiting strategies, and labor market outcomes: An equilibrium analysis of on-campus recruiting," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 282-299.
    16. Paul Frijters & Michael A. Shields, 2010. "Are Early Educational Choices Affected by Unemployment Benefits? New Theory," Discussion Papers Series 447, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    17. Jeremy Lise & Costas Meghir & Jean-Marc Robin, 2016. "Matching, Sorting and Wages," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 19, pages 63-87, January.
    18. Mendes, Rute & van den Berg, Gerard J. & Lindeboom, Maarten, 2010. "An empirical assessment of assortative matching in the labor market," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(6), pages 919-929, December.
    19. Oliveira, Paulo Felipe de & Carvalho, José Raimundo, 2016. "Regional Labor Market Differences in Brazil and Search Frictions: Some Structural Estimates," Revista Brasileira de Economia - RBE, EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance - FGV EPGE (Brazil), vol. 70(1), March.
    20. Jhon Jair Gonzalez Pulgarin, 2023. "Do firing costs change wages of low- and high-educated workers differently?," French Stata Users' Group Meetings 2023 28, Stata Users Group.
    21. Fontaine, François, 2008. "Why are similar workers paid differently? the role of social networks," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 32(12), pages 3960-3977, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts
    • J42 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Monopsony; Segmented Labor Markets
    • J60 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - General

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