Economic Shocks and Labor Market Flexibility

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Human Resources
Year: 2019
Volume: 54
Issue: 1

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

We test how labor markets adjust to large, but temporary, economic shocks in a context in which such shocks are common. Using an individual-level panel, from 1,140 Philippine municipalities over 26 quarters, we find that workers in areas affected by strong typhoons experience reductions in hours worked and hourly wages, without evidence of layoffs. The results are strongest for formal, wage-paying jobs. We argue that those results are best explained by implicit contracts where workers and firms share risks. We provide extensive qualitative data suggesting that employment contracts in the Philippines allow for such flexibility.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:uwp:jhriss:v:54:y:2019:i:1:p:171-199
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25