Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/141444 
Year of Publication: 
2016
Series/Report no.: 
FAU Discussion Papers in Economics No. 06/2016
Publisher: 
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute for Economics, Nürnberg
Abstract: 
There is strong empirical evidence for Cobb-Douglas matching functions. We show in this paper that this widely found relation between matches on the one hand and unemployment and vacancies on the other hand can be the result of different underlying mechanisms. Obviously, it can be generated by assuming a Cobb-Douglas matching function. Less obvious, the same relationship results from a vacancy free entry condition and idiosyncratic productivity shocks. A positive aggregate productivity shock leads to more vacancy posting, a shift of the idiosyncratic selection cutoff and thereby more hiring. We calibrate a model with both mechanisms to administrative German labor market data and show that idiosyncratic productivity for new contacts is an important driver of the elasticity of the job-finding rate with respect to market tightness. Accounting for idiosyncratic productivity can explain the observed negative time trend in estimated matching efficiency and asymmetric business cycle responses to large aggregate shocks.
Subjects: 
matching function
idiosyncratic productivity
job creation
vacancies
time trend
asymmetries
JEL: 
E24
E32
E20
E30
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
589.41 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.