Gross Job Flows

Working papers from the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics and East European Economies are preliminary in nature, and are circulated to promote discussion and critical comment. Any references to individual working papers should clearly state that the paper is preliminary. The views expressed here are the authors' own and not necessarily those of the Institute or any other organization or institution. Abstract This paper uses 1985-1999 manufacturing census data for old Russian enterprises to calculate the magnitude and productivity effects of gross job flow rates before and after reforms. Job creation was low throughout the period in this sector, but increased slightly during the transition, while job destruction rose markedly. Heterogeneity in firm employment change also increased significantly. Intra-and inter-sectoral job reallocation had no effect on aggregate labor productivity during the socialist period, while they have made a strong positive contribution during the transition. Privatization and product market competition have not led to greater job destruction overall, but rather have helped to focus the destruction in the firms with the lowest productivity.