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Towards a Micro-Founded Theory of Aggregate Labor Supply

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  • Andres Erosa
  • Luisa Fuster
  • Gueorgui Kambourov

Abstract

We build a heterogeneous life-cycle model which captures a large number of salient features of individual labor supply, by education, over the life cycle. The model provides an aggregation theory of individual labor supply, firmly grounded on micro evidence, and is used to study the aggregate labor supply responses to changes in the economic environment. We find that the aggregate labor supply elasticity to a transitory wage shock is 1.27, with the extensive margin accounting for 54% of the response. Furthermore, we also simulate the 1987 tax holiday in Iceland - a quasi-natural experiment - and find that the aggregate labor supply responses in the model are similar to those actually observed in Iceland.

Suggested Citation

  • Andres Erosa & Luisa Fuster & Gueorgui Kambourov, 2011. "Towards a Micro-Founded Theory of Aggregate Labor Supply," Working Papers tecipa-443, University of Toronto, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:tor:tecipa:tecipa-443
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Aggregate labor supply; intensive margin; extensive margin; heterogeneous agents; life cycle;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D9 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics
    • E2 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment
    • E13 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Neoclassical
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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