Unemployment and Development

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Feng, Ying; Lagakos, David; Rauch, James E.
• 署名单位: National University of Singapore; Boston University; National Bureau of Economic Research; University of California System; University of California San Diego; Leibniz Association; Ifo Institut
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1093/ej/uead076
• 发表日期: 2024
• 页码: 614-647
• 关键词: Structural transformation; household production; search; work; EMPLOYMENT; migration; BEHAVIOR; TRENDS; income

摘要

We draw on household survey data from countries of all income levels and document that average unemployment rates increase with gross domestic product per capita. This is accounted for almost entirely by low-rather than high-educated workers. We interpret these facts in a model with frictional labour markets, a traditional self-employment sector, skill-biased productivity differences across countries, and unemployment benefits that become more generous with development. A calibrated version of the model does well in explaining the cross-country patterns that we document. Counterfactual exercises point to skill-biased productivity differences as the most important factor in explaining the cross-country unemployment patterns.