The Impact of Aggregate and Sectoral Fluctuations on Training Decisions

Vincenzo Caponi, Burc Kayahan () and Miana Plesca ()

No 4042, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: So far the literature has found that the effect of macroeconomic fluctuations on training decisions is ambiguous. On the one hand, the opportunity cost to train is lower during downturns, and thus training should be counter-cyclical. On the other hand, a positive shock may be related to the adoption of new technologies and increased returns to skill, making training incidence pro-cyclical. Using the Canadian panel of Workplace and Employee Survey (WES) we find that (i) training moves counter-cyclical with the aggregate business cycle (more training during downturns), while at the same time (ii) the idiosyncratic sectoral shocks have a positive impact on training incidence (more training in sectors doing relatively better). This finding helps us understand training decisions by firms and has important theoretical and policy implications.

Keywords: business cycles; training (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E32 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 26 pages
Date: 2009-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab and nep-mac
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Published - revised version published in: B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics: Advances in Macroeconomics, , 2010, 10 (1), Article 28

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Impact of Aggregate and Sectoral Fluctuations on Training Decisions (2010)
Working Paper: The Impact of Aggregate and Sectoral Fluctuations on Training Decisions (2010)
Working Paper: The Impact of Aggregate and Sectoral Fluctuations on Training Decisions (2009)
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