chapter 6 classical theory of unemployment - …home.gwu.edu/~cdwei/econ2102_chap06_f11_on.pdf ·...
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0 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Chapter 6 Classical Theory of Unemployment
A crucial assumption for the labor market equilibrium in the benchmark model (Chapter 3): Homogeneity of labor and jobs
Allowing for heterogeneity of labor and jobs leads to another type of labor market equilibrium: Inflow = Outflow
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1 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Natural rate of unemployment
Natural rate of unemployment: The average rate of unemployment at which inflow is equal to outflow (a long-run concept).
In a boom, the actual unemployment rate falls below the natural rate.
In a recession, the actual unemployment rate rises above the natural rate.
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1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Actual and natural rates of unemployment, U.S., 1960-2010
Per
cent
of l
abor
forc
e Unemployment rate
Natural rate of unemployment
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3 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
A first model of the natural rate
Notation:
L = # of workers in labor force
E = # of employed workers
U = # of unemployed
U/L = unemployment rate
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4 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Assumptions:
1. L is exogenously fixed.
2. During any given month, s = rate of job separations,
the fraction of employed workers that become separated from their jobs
f = rate of job finding, fraction of unemployed workers that find jobs
s and f are exogenous
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5 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
The transitions between employment and unemployment
Employed Unemployed
s ×E
f ×U
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6 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
The steady state condition
Definition: the labor market is in steady state, or long-run equilibrium, if the unemployment rate is constant.
The steady-state condition is:
s ×E = f ×U
# of employed people who lose or leave their jobs
# of unemployed people who find jobs
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7 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Why is there unemployment?
There is no unemployment if Job separation is 0 (s = 0) OR If job finding were instantaneous
There are two reasons for unemployment: Frictional unemployment Sectoral shift Heterogeneity of workers and jobs
Structural unemployment Minimum wage laws Union premium Efficiency Wage Theory
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8 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Job search & frictional unemployment frictional unemployment: caused by the time
it takes workers to search for a job
occurs even when wages are flexible and there are enough jobs to go around
occurs because workers have different abilities, preferences jobs have different skill requirements geographic mobility of workers not instantaneous flow of information about vacancies and job
candidates is imperfect
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9 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Sectoral shifts
def: Changes in the composition of demand among industries or regions.
example: Technological change more jobs repairing computers, fewer jobs repairing typewriters
example: A new international trade agreement labor demand increases in export sectors, decreases in import-competing sectors
These scenarios result in frictional unemployment
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CASE STUDY: Structural change over the long run
4.2%
28.0%9.9%
57.9%
AgricultureManufacturingOther industryServices
1960
1.1%
13.9%8.5%
76.5%
2006
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11 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
More examples of sectoral shifts Industrial revolution (1800s):
agriculture declines, manufacturing soars
Energy crisis (1970s): demand shifts from larger cars to smaller ones
Health care spending as % of GDP: 1960: 5.2% 2000: 13.8% 1980: 9.1% 2008: 16.2%
In our dynamic economy, smaller sectoral shifts occur frequently, contributing to frictional unemployment.
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12 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Public policy and job search
Govt programs affecting unemployment include: Govt employment agencies
disseminate info about job openings to better match workers & jobs. Public job training programs
help workers displaced from declining industries get skills needed for jobs in growing industries. Unemployment Insurance Program Reducing the opportunity cost of being unemployed Maybe better matches between jobs and workers.
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13 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Why is there unemployment?
Two reasons for unemployment: 1. Friction unemployment 2. Structural unemployment : the unemployment resulting from real wage
rigidity and job rationing
U sL s f
=+
DONE Next
The natural rate of unemployment:
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14 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Unemployment from real wage rigidity
Labor
Real wage
Supply
Demand
Unemployment
Rigid real wage
Amount of labor willing to work
Amount of labor hired
If real wage is stuck above its eq’m level, then there aren’t enough jobs to go around.
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15 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Reasons for wage rigidity
1. Minimum wage laws
2. Monopoly power of labor unions
3. Efficiency wages
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16 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
1. The minimum wage
The min. wage may exceed the eq’m wage of unskilled workers, especially teenagers.
Studies: a 10% increase in min. wage reduces teen unemployment by 1-3%
But, the min. wage cannot explain the majority of the natural rate of unemployment, as most workers’ wages are well above the min. wage.
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17 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
2. Labor unions
Unions exercise monopoly power to secure higher wages for their members.
When the union wage exceeds the eq’m wage, unemployment results.
Insiders: Employed union workers whose interest is to keep wages high.
Outsiders: Unemployed non-union workers who prefer eq’m wages, so there would be enough jobs for them.
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18 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
3. Efficiency wage theory
Theories in which higher wages increase worker productivity by: attracting higher quality job applicants increasing worker effort, reducing “shirking” reducing turnover, which is costly to firms improving health of workers
(in developing countries)
Firms willingly pay above-equilibrium wages to raise productivity.
Result: structural unemployment.
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19 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
The duration of U.S. unemployment, average, 1960 – 2009
# of weeks unemployed
# of unemployed persons in group
(% of all unemployed
persons)
time spent unemployed by this group
(% of time spent unemployed
by all groups)
1-4 42% 8.1%
5-14 30% 21.5%
15 or more 27% 70.4%
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20 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
The duration of unemployment
The data: More spells of unemployment are short-term than
medium-term or long-term. Yet, most of the total time spent unemployed is
attributable to the long-term unemployed.
This long-term unemployment is probably structural and/or due to sectoral shifts among vastly different industries.
Knowing this is important because it can help us craft policies that are more likely to work.
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21 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
EXPLAINING THE TREND: Demographics
1970s: The Baby Boomers were young. Young workers change jobs more frequently (high value of s).
Late 1980s through today: Baby Boomers aged. Middle-aged workers change jobs less often (low s).
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22 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Unemployment in Europe, 1960-2009 P
erce
nt o
f lab
or fo
rce
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1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
FranceGermanyItalyUnited Kingdom
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23 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Percent of workers covered by collective bargaining, selected countries
United States 18%
United Kingdom 47
Switzerland 53
Spain 68
Sweden 83
Germany 90
France 92
Austria 98
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24 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Chapter Summary
1. The natural rate of unemployment definition: the long-run average or “steady state”
rate of unemployment depends on the rates of job separation and job
finding
2. Frictional unemployment due to the time it takes to match workers with jobs may be increased by unemployment insurance
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25 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Chapter Summary
3. Structural unemployment results from wage rigidity: the real wage remains
above the equilibrium level caused by: minimum wage, unions, efficiency
wages
4. Duration of unemployment most spells are short term but most weeks of unemployment are attributable to
a small number of long-term unemployed persons
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26 CHAPTER 6 Unemployment
Chapter Summary
5. European unemployment has risen sharply since 1970 probably due to generous unemployment benefits,
strong union presence, and a technology-driven shift in demand away from unskilled workers