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Efficiency of Thin and Thick Markets

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  • Li Gan
  • Qi Li

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a matching model to study the efficiency of thin and thick markets. Our model shows that the probabilities of matches in a thin market are significantly lower than those in a thick market. When applying our results to a job search model, it implies that, if the ratio of job candidates to job openings remains (roughly) a constant, the probability that a person can find a job is higher in a thick market than in a thin market. We apply our matching model to the U.S. academic market for new PhD economists. Consistent with the prediction of our model, a field of specialization with more job openings and more candidates has a higher probability of matching.

Suggested Citation

  • Li Gan & Qi Li, 2004. "Efficiency of Thin and Thick Markets," NBER Working Papers 10815, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:10815
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    2. Zheng Li & Guannan Liu & Qi Li, 2017. "Nonparametric Knn estimation with monotone constraints," Econometric Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(6-9), pages 988-1006, October.
    3. Philip J. Cook & Jens Ludwig & Sudhir Venkatesh & Anthony A. Braga, 2005. "Underground Gun Markets," NBER Working Papers 11737, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Diego Puga, 2010. "The Magnitude And Causes Of Agglomeration Economies," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1), pages 203-219, February.
    5. Pengzhou Wu & Kenji Fukumizu, 2021. "$\beta$-Intact-VAE: Identifying and Estimating Causal Effects under Limited Overlap," Papers 2110.05225, arXiv.org.
    6. Nicole Maestas & Kathleen J. Mullen & David Powell, 2023. "The Effect of Population Aging on Economic Growth, the Labor Force, and Productivity," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 15(2), pages 306-332, April.
    7. Xinyi Lyu & Tiaojun Xiao & Jingquan Li, 2024. "Evolution of direct network effects: A perspective of market thickness of an online freight platform," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 34(1), pages 1-16, December.
    8. Su, Yaqin & Hua, Yue & Deng, Lanfang, 2021. "Agglomeration of human capital: Evidence from city choice of online job seekers in China," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    9. Fan, Yanqin & Hou, Lei & Yan, Karen X., 2018. "On the density estimation of air pollution in Beijing," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 110-113.
    10. Vincent Geloso, 2016. "The Turnover-Reducing Effects of the Minimum Wage may Harm the Economy," Economic Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3), pages 318-325, October.
    11. Li Gan & Qinghua Zhang, 2006. "The Thick Market Effect on Housing Markets Transactions," NBER Working Papers 12134, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    12. Kostas Bimpikis & Wedad J. Elmaghraby & Ken Moon & Wenchang Zhang, 2020. "Managing Market Thickness in Online Business-to-Business Markets," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(12), pages 5783-5822, December.
    13. Eugenia Anatolyevna Kolomak, 2018. "Why Cities Emerge and Grow? Explanations of Theoretical and Empirical Studies," Spatial Economics=Prostranstvennaya Ekonomika, Economic Research Institute, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (Khabarovsk, Russia), issue 2, pages 134-153.
    14. Li, Hongjun & Li, Qi & Liu, Ruixuan, 2016. "Consistent model specification tests based on k-nearest-neighbor estimation method," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 194(1), pages 187-202.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers
    • J4 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets

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