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Tenures that shook the world: Worker Turnover in Russia, Poland and Britain

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  • Hartmut Lehmann
  • Jonathan Wadsworth

Abstract

We study worker turnover to investigate to what extent the length of time a worker has been employed by a firm shapes the turnover process in a transition economy. Using survey data, we compare the pattern of turnover with a Western economy, Britain. We show that tenure-turnover rates are higher in Russia and lower in Poland than in Britain. The characteristics of workers hired in the state and private sectors do not look very different. State and private sector firms in Poland offer the same wages to new recruits, but new private sector jobs in Russia appear to offer wage premia relative to new state jobs. We argue that these observations are consistent with a framework in which the value of seniority in jobs begun under the old order may be small and the value of a continued job match unsure, offset, in Poland at least, by insider resistance to layoffs.

Suggested Citation

  • Hartmut Lehmann & Jonathan Wadsworth, 2000. "Tenures that shook the world: Worker Turnover in Russia, Poland and Britain," LICOS Discussion Papers 9500, LICOS - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance, KU Leuven.
  • Handle: RePEc:lic:licosd:9500
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers
    • P20 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - General

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