Labour Force Participation: Timing and Persistence

Authors

• Kim B. Clark, Brigham Young University - ProvoFollow
• Lawrence H. Summers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Keywords

labor supply, persistence, timing

Abstract

This paper examines the relative importance of timing and persistence elements in explaining cyclical fluctuations in labour supply. Data from the natural experiment provided by World War II and cross-sectional data on American local labour markets, as well as aggregate time-series data are used in the empirical work. We find little evidence that timing effects play an important role in labour market dynamics. The evidence suggests that views emphasizing persistence are more accurate, and that previous employment tends to raise the probability of subsequent employment.

Original Publication Citation

"""Labor Force Participation: Timing and Persistence"" (1982). Review of Economic Studies, XLIX (5), No. 159. (With L.H. Summers)"

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation

Clark, Kim B. and Summers, Lawrence H., "Labour Force Participation: Timing and Persistence" (1982). Faculty Publications. 8992.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/8992

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

1982

Publisher

Review of Economic Studies

Language

English

College

Marriott School of Business

Department

Marketing

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Copyright Use Information

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/