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Labor Heterogeneity and Asset Prices: The Importance of Skilled Labor

Author

Listed:
  • Belo, Frederico

    (University of MN)

  • Lin, Xiaoji

    (OH State University)

Abstract

We show that heterogeneity in the composition of the labor force affects asset prices in financial markets in important ways. Theoretically, we combine a standard model of labor heterogeneity (Acemoglu, 2002) with a standard neoclassical q-theory model with labor adjustment costs. We then show that the negative expected return-hiring rate relation documented in previous studies is steeper in industries with higher labor adjustment costs. Using the overall industry level of labor skill as a proxy for the industry specific size of labor adjustment costs, we provide empirical support for this prediction. The negative expected return-hiring rate relation is twice as large among industries with higher labor skills than in industries with lower labor skills. In addition, we uncover a novel unconditional labor skill return spread. Firms in industries with more skilled labor have on average higher stock returns than firms in industries with low skilled labor, but this difference is only large across small firms. According to this result, firms with higher labor skills labor tend to be more risky because skilled labor is more costly to adjust, which in turn affects the firm's sensitivity to aggregate shocks in the economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Belo, Frederico & Lin, Xiaoji, 2012. "Labor Heterogeneity and Asset Prices: The Importance of Skilled Labor," Working Paper Series 2012-25, Ohio State University, Charles A. Dice Center for Research in Financial Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:ohidic:2012-25
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    Cited by:

    1. Marcelo Ochoa, 2013. "Volatility, labor heterogeneity and asset prices," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2013-71, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    2. Sylvain, Serginio, 2014. "Does Human Capital Risk Explain The Value Premium Puzzle?," MPRA Paper 54551, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Li Gu & Dayong Huang, 2017. "The Effect of the Growth in Labor Hours per Worker on Future Stock Returns, Hiring, and Profitability," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 21(6), pages 2249-2276.
    4. Jun Chen & Jamie Y. Tong & Wenming Wang & Feida Zhang, 2019. "The Economic Consequences of Labor Unionization: Evidence from Stock Price Crash Risk," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(3), pages 775-796, July.
    5. Lu Zhang & Howard Kung & Hang Bai, 2013. ""Shooting" the CAPM," 2013 Meeting Papers 905, Society for Economic Dynamics.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • E23 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Production
    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates

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