Job Search Activities Research Articles

Tax effects on job search, training, and work effort

The conventional economic model of labour supply is extended to include job-search activity or off-the-job training. For most tax and transfer policies, the slope of the labour-supply schedule affects the direction of search incentives relative to laissez faire. Only the income subsidy exerts unambiguously negative effects on search activity. A proportional income tax offers greater search incentives than an equal-revenue progressive income tax. The positive marginal subsidy range of an earnings subsidy evokes more search than an equal-transfer wage or income subsidy, but ranking of the latter two programs is ambiguous. Work and search effects are combined in an analysis of the impact of each policy on workers' gross market earnings.

Rural-urban migration, urban unemployment and underemployment, and job-search activity in LDCs

This paper analyzes unemployment and underemployment in LDCs within a quantity adjustment framework. Four extensions of the Harris-Todaro model are made, including allowances for more generalized job-search behavior, an urban traditional sector, preferential hiring by educational level, and labor turnover considerations. The result of these modifications is a much lower predicted unemployment rate, which accords more closely with actual observations. Some additional policy implications deriving from the analysis are noted.

Sources of Job Information for Migrants

Perhaps the degree of accuracy with which migration has been recorded and studied in the U.S. is unique to the relative youth of the nation in historical terms. However, many of the phenomena associated with migration that have economic significance are still very poorly understood. One of these is the functioning of the rural-urban labor market in the migration process. This particular aspect of the migration process is examined in this paper.Specific information on the job research process of 396 migrants from Eastern Kentucky is reported and compared with previous research findings - with subsequent generalizations regarding the policy implications of observed patterns of job search activity.

Reasons given for being unemployed and the job search progress

This paper examines whether the reasons given for being unemployed and for getting a previous job differentiate between those who later obtain jobs and those who remain unemployed. Initial interviews were carried out with 82 registered unemployed, 51 of whom participated in a follow-up one month later. Those who initially blamed their unemployment on a lack of jobs and who thought that success in the past was due to their own effort, were found to be more likely to obtain jobs. The dilemma of an active job search strategy which produces feelings of low well-being, but also a greater likelihood of obtaining work is discussed. Suggestions are given for ways of handling the conflict.