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State dependence in labour market fluctuations

Author

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  • Carlo Pizzinelli

    (IMF)

  • Konstantinos Theodoridis

    (ESM)

  • Francesco Zanetti

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

This paper documents state dependence in labour market fluctuations. Using a Threshold Vector Autoregression model (TVAR), we establish that the unemployment rate, the job separation rate, and the job finding rate exhibit a larger response to productivity shocks during periods with low aggregate productivity. A Diamond-Mortensen-Pissarides model with endogenous job separation and on-the-job search replicates these empirical regularities well. We calibrate the model to match the standard deviation of the job-transition rates explained by productivity shocks in the TVAR, and show that the model explains 88 percent of the state dependence in the unemployment rate, 76 percent for the separation rate and 36 percent for the job finding rate. The key channel underpinning state dependence in both job separation and job finding rates is the interaction of the firm's reservation productivity level and the distribution of match-specific idiosyncratic productivity. Results are robust across several variations to the baseline model.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlo Pizzinelli & Konstantinos Theodoridis & Francesco Zanetti, 2020. "State dependence in labour market fluctuations," Working Papers 47, European Stability Mechanism.
  • Handle: RePEc:stm:wpaper:47
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    Cited by:

    1. Kohlbrecher, Britta & Merkl, Christian, 2022. "Business cycle asymmetries and the labor market," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    2. Ellington, Michael & Martin, Chris & Wang, Bingsong, 2021. "Search Frictions and Evolving Labour Market Dynamics," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    3. Xiwen Bai & Jesús Fernández-Villaverde & Yiliang Li & Francesco Zanetti, 2024. "The Causal Effects of Global Supply Chain Disruptions on Macroeconomic Outcomes: Evidence and Theory," Economics Series Working Papers 1033, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    4. Joshua Bernstein & Alexander W. Richter & Nathaniel A. Throckmorton, 2022. "The Matching Function and Nonlinear Business Cycles," Working Papers 2201, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
    5. Beqiraj, Elton & Tancioni, Massimiliano, 2023. "Subsidizing new jobs in the Euro-zone periphery," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 380-401.
    6. Dimitris Christopoulos & Peter McAdam & Elias Tzavalis, 2023. "Exploring Okun's law asymmetry: An endogenous threshold logistic smooth transition regression approach," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 85(1), pages 123-158, February.
    7. Nalban, Valeriu & Smădu, Andra, 2021. "Asymmetric effects of uncertainty shocks: Normal times and financial disruptions are different," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    8. Bernstein, Joshua & Richter, Alexander W. & Throckmorton, Nathaniel A., 2021. "Cyclical net entry and exit," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    9. Nick Stenner, 2022. "The Asymmetric Effects of Monetary Policy: Evidence from the United Kingdom," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 84(3), pages 516-543, June.
    10. Joshua Bernstein & Alexander W. Richter & Nathaniel A. Throckmorton, 2021. "Nonlinear Search and Matching Explained," Working Papers 2106, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Search and Matching Models; State Dependence in Business Cycles; Threshold Vector Autoregression;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: General

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