Household Search or Individual Search: Does It Matter?

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Labor Economics
Year: 2018
Volume: 36
Issue: 1
Pages: 1 - 46

Authors (2)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

Most labor market search models ignore the fact that decisions are often made at the household level. We fill this gap by developing and estimating a household search model with on-the-job search and labor supply. We find that ignoring the household as a decision-making unit has relevant empirical consequences. In estimation, the individual search model implies gender wage offer differentials almost twice as large as the household search model. In the application, the individual search model implies female lifetime inequality 30% lower than the household search model. Labor market policy effects on lifetime inequality are also sensitive to the specification.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/693864
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25