Labor Supply Elasticities Research Articles

Capturing the Benefits of Autonomous Vehicles in Ride Hailing: The Role of Market Configuration

We develop an economic model of autonomous vehicle (AV) ride-hailing markets, in which uncertain aggregate demand is served with a combination of a fixed fleet of AVs and a flexible pool of human drivers (HVs). Dispatch efficiencies increase with scale because of density effects. We analyze market outcomes in this setting under four market configurations, defined by two dispatch platform structures (common platform versus independent platforms) and two levels of supply competition (monopoly AV versus competitive AV). A key result of our analysis is that the lower cost of AVs does not necessarily translate into lower prices; the price impact of AVs is ambiguous and depends critically on both the dispatch platform structure and the level of AV supply competition. In the extreme case, we show that if AVs and HVs operate on independent dispatch platforms, there is a monopoly AV supplier, and labor supply elasticity is sufficiently high, then prices are even higher than in a pure-HV market. Indeed, to guarantee consistently lower prices (relative to a pure HV market) in all scenarios and under all supply and density elasticities, a common dispatch platform between AVs and HVs is required. Furthermore, competitive AVs lead to lower prices than monopoly AVs in every such scenario. Our results illustrate the critical role that market configuration plays in realizing potential welfare gains from AVs. This paper was accepted by Omar Besbes, revenue management and market analytics. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2020.03112 .

Firm gender labour supply elasticities and sources of separation: evidence from Chile

ABSTRACT We exploit a national administrative dataset to estimate labour supply elasticities at the firm level in Chile, distinguishing for the first time the source of separation (quits versus layoffs), which is crucial as only the former is consistent with employees’ responses to changes in wages. Our results suggest that labour supply elasticities increase by around 18% when all separations (i.e. without identifying its source) are used instead of voluntary separations (i.e. quits). Hence, it transpires that previous literature, which due to data constraints, did not identify the source of separations, presented results which were upward biased, thus overestimating labour market competitiveness. We also find that between firm differences in the gender-specific elasticities are more relevant than within firm differences when voluntary separations are used, a result that should be considered by governments in the design of their gender gap policy agenda.

Hours of work and the long‐run effects of in‐work transfers

AbstractPolicymakers have increasingly turned to ‘in‐work transfers’ to boost incomes among poorer workers and strengthen work incentives. One attraction of these is that labour supply elasticities are typically greatest at the extensive margin. Because in‐work transfers are normally subject to earnings‐related phase‐outs, they tend to most strongly incentivize part‐time work, weakening incentives to increase hours beyond that. But if part‐time work generates relatively little in the way of human capital and career progression, then policy design should factor in the longer‐term consequences of labour supply choices along the intensive margin. To that end, we use a dynamic model of female labour supply with endogenous human capital accumulation, and study actual and hypothetical welfare reforms in the UK. We show that for a given expansion in the government budget, those reforms that incentivize full‐time work can do considerably more to increase incomes, including among poorer households, and to raise welfare. Our results suggest that in‐work transfers could be refined by paying greater attention to the intensive margin effects through the design of their phase‐outs.

Understanding the individual labor supply and wages on digital labor platforms: A microworker perspective

The emergence of crowdsourcing as a new form of work has introduced a paradox among workers who receive small payments for piecemeal microwork yet continue to participate in microwork digital labor platforms (DLPs). To better understand what sustains microworkers’ participation, this study draws upon individual labor supply theory to quantitatively examine the impacts of microworkers’ motivations, perceptions, and preferences on their labor supply and wages. To explore the meaning of monetary rewards for microworkers, a qualitative inquiry explores microworkers’ spending patterns. Based on a survey of 306 microworkers on Amazon Mechanical Turk, our hierarchical regression analysis reveals that while individual motivations for monetary rewards, enjoyment, and microtime structure have some impact on the microwork labor supply and wages, their impact is limited. Our thematic analysis uncovers diverse meanings attached to microwork earnings. The two most noted are meeting subsistence needs and nonessential expenditures, both of which have positive effects on microwork wages. By investigating the elasticity of the microwork labor supply and wages and offering a nuanced understanding of monetary rewards, our study contributes to information management research on DLPs. Moreover, it provides practical insights for various stakeholders, including microworkers, requesters, and DLP operators.

Multinational entry and exit, technology transfer, and international business cycles

I develop a general equilibrium model of trade and horizontal multinational firms with firm heterogeneity and parent-to-affiliate technology transfer to evaluate how multinationals affect international business cycles. When calibrated to match micro and macro features of the United States, the impact of multinational firms crucially depends on the labor supply elasticity and the technology transfer parameter. Surprisingly, with standard (elastic) labor supply, multinationals lead to lower international correlations and higher macroeconomic volatility. A novel mechanism – procyclical exit of multinational firms – drives these results. The results are overturned only when inelastic labor supply and a high level of technology transfer are implemented together. Using novel bilateral data on the number and sales of multinational affiliates, I find evidence that the key model mechanism, i.e., entry and exit by multinationals, increases international output correlation.

Wealth Elasticity, Agent Heterogeneity and Fiscal Dynamics

The literature on fiscal policy has identified wealth elasticity of labor supply and agent heterogeneity as the linchpin of shaping different transmission mechanisms for fiscal policy. In this paper, I build these two important edifices on an otherwise canonical business-cycle model to conduct quantitative analyses of various fiscal policies. To underscore the relative importance of agent heterogeneity, I compare results from the model with agent heterogeneity with those from a standard model without agent heterogeneity. I also compare results from changes in wealth elasticity to analyze how the model ingredient delivers different macroeconomic and fiscal dynamics. The main finding reveals that in the context of the model formulated in this paper, the capital tax is the least detrimental to business cycles and fiscal states and the consumption tax is the most appropriate policy tool since it yields positive output and tax-revenue multipliers in the short and long runs. All the results from counterfactual experiments suggest that macroeconomic and fiscal outcomes hinge fundamentally on agent heterogeneity and wealth elasticity. An important value that this paper adds to the literature is to offer results from a comprehensive analysis of all possible fiscal policies by considering both essential forces.

Distributional effects of immigration and imperfect labour markets

In canonical models, the labour share is orthogonal to immigration shocks in the long run, regardless of the impact of immigration on productivity. In contrast, this paper provides evidence that immigration increases labour productivity while reducing the labour share. We produce this evidence using data from Great Britain with a shift-share instrument that exploits European Union expansions and changes in immigration to other high-income countries. Our results are consistent with the predictions from imperfect labour market models, where immigrant and native workers are heterogeneous in skills, and the former have lower labour supply elasticities than the latter. A significant implication of our analysis is that immigration redistributes income from workers to employers.

A modest basic income can benefit a poor majority

Given a general utility and income distribution and positive unemployment benefits, we analyze the impact of a universal basic income (UBI) financed by an income tax and reducing unemployment benefits. With extensive margins only and identical fixed costs of work, we show that UBI can benefit a poor majority. Plausible conditions can ensure similar results with different fixed costs. With both extensive and intensive margins but identical fixed costs, a modest UBI can still benefit a poor majority provided the income weighted tax elasticity of labor supply from intensive margins is less than the non-employment rate, which is usually true.

Consumption externalities, elastic labor supply and wealth distribution

This study employs a neoclassical growth model to investigate the impact of consumption externalities on the distribution of wealth. It also jointly accounts for heterogeneity in the degree of consumption externalities, heterogeneity in the initial wealth endowments, and endogenous labor supply. First, we demonstrate that catching-up occurs when an initially poorer household works more than an initially wealthier one, after which the additional income acquired through hard work offsets the initial wealth difference. Second, a reduction in wealth inequality is only consistent and systematic if an initially wealthier household works relatively less than the social average. When this condition is not met, a reduction in wealth inequality only occurs if the initial wealth is highly and unevenly distributed.

Labor market monopsony power in the manufacturing sector of four Sub‐Saharan African countries

AbstractWe estimate labor market monopsony power among manufacturing firms in four Sub‐Saharan African countries using a parametric production function approach on panel dataset. Pooled estimate suggests that wages are approximately 38 percent of the marginal revenue product of labor, implying a labor supply elasticity of 0.62. Nonparametric robustness checks indicate these results are robust to concerns over parametric model misspecification. Departure from competitive labor market leads to approximately 50.80 percent higher employer rent, 75.61 percent lower employee rent, and 15.95 percent deadweight loss. Overall, our results are suggestive of monopsonistic labor markets.

The Norwegian tax holiday: Salience, labor supply responses, and frictions

AbstractAn emerging consensus is that the Frisch elasticity of labor supply is small. This may reflect a lack of salience, inelastic preferences, or prevalence of frictions. Studying survey data collected during a tax holiday in Norway, when earnings were untaxed during a transition between tax systems, I report three findings. First, 80 per cent of adults were aware of the tax holiday. Second, one fifth of adults responded by working more. Third, frictions in adjusting working hours or nonworking time appear to be the reason for a majority of nonresponses. The findings support the long‐held notion that labor supply choices are constrained.

Human capital quality and its impact on economic growth of Russian regions

Purpose: is to empirically substantiate the impact of human capital quality on the economic growth of the regions of Russia on the basis of theoretical and methodological generalization of its main aspects.Methods: along with traditional methods, specific methods were used, such as content analysis, methods of expert assessments and comparative analysis, and the calculation and graphic technique of Xiang-Yeaple, which allowed to identify the state of human capital quality, as well as establish its optimal structure suitable for dynamic economic development.Results: the cognitive and non-cognitive parameters of human potential are established as a realistic factor in the dynamics of gross regional product that determines the future pace of economic development. A comparative analysis of the labor demand and supply elasticity coefficients has revealed the degree of impact of its quality in ensuring the corresponding trends of economic growth. It was proven that significant investments in human capital and high levels of its development represent only a factor of ensuring economic growth and don’t guarantee its achievement. Recommendations for ensuring the development of labor potential as determinant of economic development, the growth rates of which largely depends on the human capital quality.Сonclusions and Relevance: the Russian economy should focus on the formation and development of high-quality human capital through talent-fueled innovation by reforming the existing education system and assessing scientific potential in order to optimize the labor and branch structure suitable for high-quality economic growth. Human capital should be structured considering the parameters of its quality, the level of available labor potential, and the types of activities that require advanced knowledge for systemic economic growth.

Asset bubble and growth: Elastic labor supply with fiscal policy

This paper examines the interaction between asset bubbles and endogenous growth. Using an overlapping generations model with elastic labor supply and fiscal policy, we demonstrate that the inefficiency of the equilibrium without bubble, in conjunction with specific fiscal policy criteria, guarantees the existence of a bubble. This inefficiency is due to the sub-optimality of labor supply. Furthermore, we establish a positive impact of asset bubbles on economic growth. These bubbles prompt an increase in the interest rate, encouraging households to increase their labor supply. This surge in labor supply, in turn, heightens the marginal productivity of capital stock, culminating in an increase in the growth rate. Additionally, we find that, provided certain fiscal parameters are met, asset bubbles are welfare-enhancing.

Income tax reductions in production networks

AbstractWe analytically characterize the comparative statics of the macroeconomy after income tax reductions in which production is organized in networks around the inefficient economy. We contribute to the literature by showing that in production networks, income taxes have different effects from revenue taxes which are assumed to be real distortions in the literature. The sectoral income tax reductions’ first-order effect on the GDP is given by a sufficient statistics: the product of the sectoral labor demand elasticity and sectoral Domar weight minus the sectoral labor share in the total labor supply, the latter of which is adjusted for labor supply elasticity if labor is elastic. We apply this model to quantify the effects of income tax reductions during the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA.

Should Italy switch to a flat tax? An assessment based on a heterogeneous agents OLG model

We use a heterogeneous agents overlapping generations (OLG) model to quantitatively assess the impact of a reform in which a personal income tax with increasing marginal tax rates is replaced by a flat tax possibly complemented with a deduction. The value of the flat tax rate is set in order to balance the government budget and accordingly it increases with the value of the deduction. The model is calibrated and simulated for Italy. For low values of the deduction, aggregate labor supply increases, though this aggregate effect masks a completely different impact on the intensive and the extensive margin of labor supply: in particular, the activity rate is reduced by the introduction of a flat tax. As to inequality, it rises and this increase can be mitigated by using an higher value of the tax deduction, which however dampens down the positive effect of a flat tax on economic performance. Finally, the effect of a flat tax on social welfare crucially depends on the degree of inequality aversion embedded in the social welfare function and on the Frisch elasticity of labor supply.

Intertemporal substitution in labor supply: A meta-analysis

The intertemporal substitution (Frisch) elasticity of labor supply governs how structural models predict changes in people's willingness to work in response to changes in economic conditions or government fiscal policy. We show that the mean reported estimates of the elasticity are exaggerated due to publication bias. For both the intensive and extensive margins the literature provides over 700 estimates, with a mean of 0.5 in both cases. Correcting for publication bias and emphasizing quasi-experimental evidence reduces the mean intensive margin elasticity to 0.2 and renders the extensive margin elasticity tiny. A total hours elasticity of about 0.25 is the most consistent with empirical evidence. To trace the differences in reported elasticities to differences in estimation context, we collect 23 variables reflecting study design and employ Bayesian and frequentist model averaging to address model uncertainty. On both margins the elasticity is systematically larger for women and workers near retirement, but not enough to support a total hours elasticity above 0.5.

Monopsony power and workers’ switching costs: Evidence from hospitals in China

Using a Chinese hospital-level data set from 2007 to 2018, we measure the monopsony power of hospitals over health care workers by estimating the labor supply elasticity with a hospital-specific labor demand instrument constructed from the number of emergency department visits. The two-stage least squares estimation results show that hospitals have market power over their employees with an implied labor supply elasticity of 1.14, which implies that the wage accounts for only 53% of the marginal revenue product of labor, significantly below the competitive level. More importantly, we find that hospitals’ monopsony power decreases when physicians have the freedom to practice at other hospitals while retaining their positions in their primary hospitals (multi-sited practice policy). Overall, we find that workers’ cost of switching away from employers explains the degree of monopsony power of employers over workers.

Understanding multi-homing and switching by platform drivers

Freelance drivers in the shared mobility market frequently switch or work for multiple platforms, affecting driver labor supply. Due to the importance of driver labor supply for the shared mobility market, understanding drivers’ switching and multi-homing behavior is vital to managing service quality on – and effective regulation of – mobility platforms. However, a lack of individual-level data on driver behavior has thus far impeded a deeper understanding. This paper taxonomizes and estimates perceived switching and multi-homing frictions on mobility platforms. Based on a structural model of driver labor supply, we estimate switching and multi-homing costs in a platform duopoly using public and limited high-level survey data. Estimated costs are sizeable, and reductions in multi-homing and switching costs significantly affect platform market shares and driver welfare. Driver labor supply elasticity with respect to platform wage is also discussed considering both multi-homing and switching frictions.

Estimating labor supply responses to Danish tax reforms

This paper estimates the elasticity of labor supply at the intensive margin by applying the latest estimation strategies from the elasticity of taxable income literature to administrative register data on performed hours of work. Performed hours of work are contract hours plus paid overtime, minus paid absence, vacation, and holiday leave. I estimate elasticities of labor supply at the intensive margin (ELS), labor income (ELI), and taxable income (ETI) of 0.08, 0.06, and 0.1. The results show that the high ratio of ELI to ETI can be attributed to changes in labor supply for wage earners, capturing inherent labor responses. As a result, I explicitly connect the labor supply and ETI literatures. The labor supply response is driven by changes in contract hours, paid absence, and individuals switching between main and secondary employment. These results suggest that contextual factors such as labor market fluidity and flexibility are important to facilitate real responses to taxation and that labor supply responses are core underlying drivers of total responses to taxation.

Instrumental variable estimation for functional concurrent regression models

In this work we propose a functional concurrent regression model to estimate labor supply elasticities over the years 1988 through 2014 using Current Population Survey data. Assuming, as is common, that individuals' wages are endogenous, we introduce instrumental variables in a two-stage least squares approach to estimate the desired labor supply elasticities. Furthermore, we tailor our estimation method to sparse functional data. Though recent work has incorporated instrumental variables into other functional regression models, to our knowledge this has not yet been done in the functional concurrent regression model, and most existing literature is not suited for sparse functional data. We show through simulations that this two-stage least squares approach greatly eliminates the bias introduced by a naive model (i.e. one that does not acknowledge endogeneity) and produces accurate coefficient estimates for moderate sample sizes.