Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP2419
Authors: Rob Euwals
Abstract: In the empirical literature on labour supply, several static models are developed to incorporate constraints on working hours. These models do not address to what extent working hours are constrained within jobs, and to what extent working hours can be adjusted by means of changing employer. The aim of this paper is to measure the flexibility of working hours within and between jobs by utilizing subjective information on individual preferences to adjustments in working hours. The potential endogeneity of both the subjective information and job mobility will be taken into account. Furthermore, we argue that the Netherlands is an interesting country for the study of working hour flexibility, as part-time employment is fairly common. Empirical analysis based on a sample of employed women in the Dutch Socio-Economic Panel (1987-1989) shows, however, that the flexibility of working hours within jobs is low. Job mobility is a means of adjustment in working hours mainly for women who want to work more hours.
Keywords: labour supply; hours restriction; job mobility
JEL Codes: C33; J22; J60
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| working hours are relatively inflexible within jobs (J29) | adjustment rate for women who want to work more hours (J22) |
| job mobility serves as a means to adjust working hours (J62) | adjustment rate for women who wish to work more hours (J22) |
| job mobility serves as a means to adjust working hours (J62) | adjustment rate for women who want to work fewer hours (J22) |
| exogenous variables such as actual working hours and regional labor demand characteristics (J29) | job mobility (J62) |