Revisiting the Matching Function

Britta Kohlbrecher, Christian Merkl and Daniela Nordmeier

No 5924, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: There is strong empirical evidence for Cobb-Douglas matching functions. We show in this paper that this widely found relation between matches on the one hand and unemployment and vacancies on the other hand can be the result of different underlying mechanisms. Obviously, it can be generated by assuming a Cobb-Douglas matching function. Less obvious, the same relationship results from a vacancy free entry condition and idiosyncratic productivity shocks. A positive aggregate productivity shock leads to more vacancy posting, a shift of the idiosyncratic selection cutoff and thereby more hiring. We calibrate a model with both mechanisms to administrative German labor market data and show that idiosyncratic productivity for new contacts is an important driver of the elasticity of the job-finding rate with respect to market tightness. Accounting for idiosyncratic productivity can explain the observed negative time trend in estimated matching efficiency and asymmetric business cycle responses to large aggregate shocks.

Keywords: matching function; idiosyncratic productivity; job creation; vacancies; time trend; asymmetries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E20 E24 E30 E32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (38)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Revisiting the matching function (2016)
Working Paper: Revisiting the matching function (2014)
Working Paper: Revisiting the Matching Function (2014)
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