The valuation of changes in commuting distances: an analysis using georeferenced data

Wolfgang Dauth and Peter Haller
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Peter Haller: Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany

No 201643, IAB-Discussion Paper from Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany]

Abstract: "We analyze the causal effect of commuting on wages, using a large sample of German job changers. Information on their home and workplace addresses in combination with road navigation software allows us to calculate exact door-to-door commuting distances with an unprecedented degree of precision. We use a theoretical model on spatial job search to motivate our empirical strategy. By focusing on job moves, we can use panel data techniques and control for unobserved individual heterogeneity. We find an asymmetric valuation of distance changes. Job changers value a reduction of their commuting distance higher than an increase. Apparently, individuals are not able to capitalize the full costs of commuting in their wages. A large part of this effect can be explained by sorting into certain firms at different distances and the rest by individual wage bargaining." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Keywords: Bundesrepublik Deutschland; Berufspendler; Einkommenseffekte; Integrierte Erwerbsbiografien; Lohnfindung; Lohnhöhe; Lohnzulage; Work-Life-Balance; Arbeitsplatzwahl; Arbeitsplatzwechsel; Arbeitsuche; Arbeitsweg; Arbeitszufriedenheit; 2007-2009 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J31 J64 R12 R40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 28 pages
Date: 2016
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-geo, nep-lab, nep-tre and nep-ure
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:iab:iabdpa:201643

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