Earnings Functions, Specific Human Capital, and Job Matching: Tenure Bias Is Negative

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Labor Economics
Year: 2003
Volume: 21
Issue: 4
Pages: 783-806

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This article investigates the hypothesis that when measures of specific human capital (such as job tenure) are included in earnings functions, there may be a sample selection bias because of job-matching effectsbecause workers with high unobserved match quality receive and accept high wage offers. We develop a model for wage offers in a labor market characterized by both specific human capital and job matching. The model provides a theoretical basis for empirical earnings functions containing specific capital, and it demonstrates that sample selection bias reduces the estimated return to specific human capital and tenure.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jlabec:v:21:y:2003:i:4:p:783-806
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-29