Perceived Returns to Job Search

The Job Search Grind: Perceived Progress, Self-reactions, and Self-regulation of Search Effort

Guided by theory and research on self-regulation and goal pursuit, we offer a framework for studying the dynamics of unemployed individuals’ job search. A daily survey over three weeks demonstrated vacillation in job seeker affect and, to a lesser extent, “reemployment efficacy.” Daily perceived job search progress was related to this vacillation. Lower perceived progress on any given day was r...

Individual Heterogeneity, Job Matching, and Returns to Tenure in Germany

Job spells, employer spells, and wage returns to tenure

We show that the distinction between job spells and employer spells matters for returns to tenure. Employer spells encompass between-job wage movements linked to promotions or demotions while job spells don't. Using a 1% sample of the British workforce over the period 1975-2010, we find that a significant proportion of the return to employer tenure arises due to job changes within employer spel...

Job to Job Movements in a Simple Search Model

On the job search is a key feature of real life labor markets. Yet, traditional equilibrium unemployment theory has not been able to account for on-thejob search in a satisfactory manner. In this paper we present an equilibrium model which includes on-thejob search as an optimal response to search frictions and differences in firm productivity. Our model is laid out in detail in ongoing researc...

Job Market Signaling and Job Search

The high cost of searching for employers borne by prospective employees increases friction in the labor market and inhibits formation of e¢ cient employer-employee relationships. It is conventionally agreed that mechanisms that reduce the search costs (e.g., internet portals for job search) lower unemployment and improve overall welfare. We demonstrate that a reduction of the search costs may h...