Job matching when employment contracts suffer from moral hazard

B-Tier
Journal: European Economic Review
Year: 2011
Volume: 55
Issue: 7
Pages: 964-979

Authors (2)

Demougin, Dominique (not in RePEc) Helm, Carsten (Carl von Ossietzky Universität...)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

We consider a job matching model where the relationships between firms and wealth-constrained workers suffer from moral hazard. Specifically, effort on the job is non-contractible so that parties that are matched negotiate a bonus contract. Higher unemployment benefits affect the workers' outside option. The latter is improved for low-skilled workers. Hence they receive a larger share of the surplus, which strengthens their effort incentives and increases productivity. Effects are reversed for high-skilled workers. Moreover, raising benefit payments affects the proportion of successful matches, which induces some firms to exit the economy and causes unemployment to increase.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:eecrev:v:55:y:2011:i:7:p:964-979
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25