Re-employment expectations and realisations: Prediction errors and behavioural responses

Sonja C. Kassenboehmer and Sonja G. Schatz
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Sonja Cornelia de New

Labour Economics, 2017, vol. 44, issue C, 161-176

Abstract: Using a nationally representative panel dataset, this study investigates the extent and impact of systematic misconceptions that the currently unemployed have about their prospect of re-employment. Such biased expectations are of interest because of their capacity to drive sub-optimal labour market behaviour. Specifically, people with unemployment experience of three to five years significantly underestimate their probability of re-employment. Simply having information about the individuals' previous unemployment experience is sufficient to produce more accurate predictions than those of the individuals themselves. People who underestimate their re-employment probability are less likely to search actively for a job and more likely to exit the labour force. If re-employed, they are more likely to accept lower wages, work fewer hours, work part-time and experience lower levels of life satisfaction. By improving the accuracy of re-employment expectations, employment agency caseworkers may use this information to enhance their clients' labour market decision-making and prevent adverse job-seeking behaviours.

Keywords: Job insecurity; Re-employment expectations; Prediction errors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D84 J01 J64 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:labeco:v:44:y:2017:i:c:p:161-176

DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2016.12.005

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