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Measuring human capital in the labor market: The supply of experience in 8 OECD countries

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  • Etienne Wasmer

    (ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

To investigate the evolution of the supply side of the labor market, I derive a methodology to measure an important component of the human capital level of the workforce, the experience of the labor market. Based on the perpetual inventory method, a stock of experience is estimated for eight OECD countries. It appears that, during the last three decades, the OECD labor markets have faced a decline in the supply of experience by the labor market participants, with a minimum in the early 1980s for most countries and a recovery in the 1990s. Some implications regarding relative wages, relative unemployment and schooling are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Etienne Wasmer, 2001. "Measuring human capital in the labor market: The supply of experience in 8 OECD countries," Post-Print hal-03588636, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03588636
    DOI: 10.1016/S0014-2921(01)00113-1
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    Cited by:

    1. de la Croix, David & Docquier, Frederic & Liegeois, Philippe, 2007. "Income growth in the 21st century: Forecasts with an overlapping generations model," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 621-635.
    2. Wasmer, Etienne, 1998. "Labor Supply Dynamics, Unemployment and Human Capital Investments," Seminar Papers 651, Stockholm University, Institute for International Economic Studies.
    3. Olivier Charlot, 2005. "Éducation, emploi et participation au marché du travail dans un modèle d'appariement," Recherches économiques de Louvain, De Boeck Université, vol. 71(1), pages 35-66.
    4. Léné, Alexandre, 2011. "Occupational downgrading and bumping down: The combined effects of education and experience," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 257-269, April.
    5. Verdugo, Gregory, 2014. "The great compression of the French wage structure, 1969–2008," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 131-144.
    6. Étienne Wasmer, 2004. "Labor supply dynamics, unemployment and experience in the labor market," Recherches économiques de Louvain, De Boeck Université, vol. 70(4), pages 461-482.
    7. Wasmer, Etienne, 2001. "Between-group Competition in the Labor Market and the Rising Returns to Skill: US and France 1964-2000," IZA Discussion Papers 292, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Chojnicki, Xavier & Docquier, Frédéric & Ragot, Lionel, 2005. "Should the U.S. Have Locked the Heaven's Door? Reassessing the Benefits of the Postwar Immigration," IZA Discussion Papers 1676, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    Keywords

    Human capital; Perpetual inventory method;

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