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Labor Market Search, Informality, and On-The-Job Human Capital Accumulation

Author

Listed:
  • Matteo Bobba

    (Toulouse School of Economics, University of Toulouse Capitole)

  • Luca Flabbi

    (Department of Economics, University of North Carolina)

  • Santiago Levy

    (Vice-Presidency for Sectors and Knowledge, Inter-American Development Bank)

  • Mauricio Tejada

    (Department of Economics (ILADES), Universidad Alberto Hurtado)

Abstract
We develop a search and matching model where firms and workers produce output that depends both on match-specific productivity and on worker-specific human capital. The human capital is accumulated while working but depreciates while searching for a job. Jobs can be formal or informal and firms post the formality status. The equilibrium is characterized by an endogenous steady state distribution of human capital and by an endogenous formality rate. The model is estimated on longitudinal labor market data for Mexico. Human capital accumulation on-the-job is responsible for more than half of the overall value of production and upgrades more quickly while working formally than informally. Policy experiments reveal that the dynamics of human capital accumulation magnifies the negative impact on productivity of the labor market institutions that give raise to informality

Suggested Citation

  • Matteo Bobba & Luca Flabbi & Santiago Levy & Mauricio Tejada, 2019. "Labor Market Search, Informality, and On-The-Job Human Capital Accumulation," ILADES-UAH Working Papers inv326, Universidad Alberto Hurtado/School of Economics and Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:ila:ilades:inv326
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Fang, Lan & Quan, Yurong & Mao, Hui & Chen, Shaojian, 2022. "The Information Communication Technology and Off-farm Employment of Rural Laborers: An Analysis Based on the Micro Data of China Family Panel Studies," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322088, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Lee Shinyoung & Kim Seulki & Kim Young-Chul & Ryu Doojin, 2024. "Social Support and Suicidal Ideation among Children of Cross-Border Married Couples," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 18(1), pages 1-17.
    4. Flabbi, Luca & Tejada, Mauricio M., 2023. "Are informal self-employment and informal employment as employee behaviorally distinct labor force states?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    5. Matteo Bobba & Luca Flabbi & Santiago Levy, 2022. "Labor Market Search, Informality, And Schooling Investments," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 63(1), pages 211-259, February.
    6. Salvador Valdés & Samuel Leyton, 2019. "Social insurance contributions: frequency vs. Earnings," Documentos de Trabajo 528, Instituto de Economia. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile..
    7. Matías Ciaschi, 2020. "Job loss and household labor supply adjustments in developing countries: Evidence from Argentina," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0271, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    8. Bettoni, Luis G. & Santos, Marcelo R., 2022. "Public sector employment and aggregate fluctuations," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    9. Finamor, Lucas, 2024. "Labor Market Informality, Risk, and Insurance," MPRA Paper 121662, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Labor market frictions; Search and matching; Nash bargaining; Informality; On-the-Job human capital accumulation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements

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