A Dynamic Equilibrium Model of the US Wage Structure, 1968-1996

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Labor Economics
Year: 2013
Volume: 31
Issue: 1
Pages: 1 - 49

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 develop an equilibrium model of the US labor market, fit to Panel Study of Income Dynamics data from 1968-96. Our main innovation is a finer differentiation of types of labor than in prior work (i.e., by occupation, education, gender, and age). This lets us fit wage and employment patterns better than simpler models. We obtain a good fit to wages and occupational choices over the 29-year period while also explaining college attendance rates. We use the model to assess factors driving changes in the wage structure. Occupational demand shifts and shifts in demand for college labor and female labor within occupations are key factors.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/666698
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25