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Search Intensity, Cost of Living and Local Labor Markets in Britain

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  • Patacchini, Eleonora

    (Cornell University)

  • Zenou, Yves

    (Monash University)

Abstract

A model is considered in which optimal search intensity is a result of a tradeoff between short-run losses due to higher search costs (more interviews, commuting…) and long-run gains due to a higher chance of finding a job. We show that this optimal search intensity is higher in areas characterized by larger cost of living and/or higher labor market tightness. We then test this model using county-level data in England for the period 1991-2000. As predicted by the theoretical model, both the (county) cost of living and the (county) labor market tightness are found to have a positive and significant effect on the (county) search intensity. We also find positive spatial correlation between counties (i.e. clustering of counties with similar level of search intensity) and strong spatial spillover effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Patacchini, Eleonora & Zenou, Yves, 2003. "Search Intensity, Cost of Living and Local Labor Markets in Britain," IZA Discussion Papers 772, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp772
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    Cited by:

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    2. Sabrina Di Addario, 2005. "Job Search in Thick Markets: Evidence from Italy," Economics Series Working Papers 235, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    3. Moreno-Galbis, E., 2006. "Unemployment and endogenous growth with new technologies-skill complementarity," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 364-386, March.
    4. GOBILLON Laurent & SELOD Harris, 2007. "The effects of segregation and spatial mismatch on unemployment: evidence from France," Research Unit Working Papers 0702, Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquee, INRA.
    5. E. Moreno-Galbis & Henri Sneessens, 2007. "Low-skilled unemployment, capital-skill complementarity and embodied technical progress," Recherches économiques de Louvain, De Boeck Université, vol. 73(3), pages 241-272.
    6. Eva, MORENO-GALBIS, 2004. "Unemployment and Endogenous Growth with Capital-Skill Complementarity," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2004001, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    job matching; search intensities; dynamic panel data; GMM estimation; spatial correlation; measurement errors;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • R1 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics

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