Labor Economics Commons^™

Entrepreneurship Over The Business Cycle, Ryan Rudderham, Miyu Aoki

Annual Student Research Poster Session

During economic recessions, individuals face a challenging decision: whether to seek traditional employment or start their own business. While recessions are a poor time for entrepreneurship due to reduced consumer spending and business productivity, these periods also feature high unemployment, which makes finding wage work difficult. This project developed a theoretical framework to study entrepreneurship over the business cycle by introducing labor market frictions, creating a tractable yet realistic structure for occupational choice. Traditional macroeconomic models struggle to capture entrepreneurial decision-making across business cycles. As such, this project looked at labor market frictions in building a theoretical framework. Over the …

**Human Capital Migration And International Trade: A Comparative Case Study Of Germany And Austria, 2000 To 2024**, Jahnvi Jha

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

This study examines migration of people and international trade in Germany and Austria between 2000 and 2024. Both countries saw sharp rises in immigrant populations, with foreign-born residents reaching 18 percent in Germany and 22 percent in Austria, while their exports grew to record levels. The research explores whether human capital migration like workers bringing skills, education, and networks has complemented or substituted trade. Evidence shows migration often reduces barriers to commerce by creating trust, demand for home-country goods, and professional connections. Skilled workers in high-tech industries further boost export capacity. Contrary to fears that migrants might weaken competitiveness, the …

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 38. Alfred Russel Wallace's "Revolt Of Democracy": A Critical Analysis Of Early 20th Century Labor Theory And Its Contemporary Relevance, James Williams, Charles H. Smith Editor

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

This article examines Alfred Russel Wallace’s political treatise The Revolt of Democracy (1913), analyzing his theoretical framework for addressing labor unrest and economic inequality in early 20th-century Britain. Wallace's work presents a comprehensive critique of competitive capitalism and proposes systematic government intervention to address structural poverty. Through close textual analysis and comparison with contemporary UK labor conditions, this study evaluates the enduring relevance of Wallace's economic theories and policy prescriptions. The analysis reveals significant continuities between early 20th-century and contemporary debates about living wages, government employment standards, and wealth redistribution, while highlighting both the prescience and limitations of Wallace’s analytical …

The Impact Of A Vocational Training ‘Plus’ Programme On Employment And Income, Abu S. Shonchoy, Tomoki Fujii, Selim. Raihan

Research Collection School Of Economics

Following a Randomised Controlled Trial in Northern Bangladesh, this study explores the barriers to rural youth migration to urban employment hubs. By implementing a vocational training “plus” programme facilitating apparel sector employment, the study revealed significant and persistent effects of the programme on income and employment, primarily due to the addition of a stipend and on-the-job training components. Treated participants experienced significant income and remittance increases, alongside reduced income poverty, attributed to the lower job search costs and job–fit risks. Notably, the on-the-job paid apprenticeship offered a benefit–cost ratio of 8.85, demonstrating its cost-effectiveness for programme scalability.

South Carolina Reemployment Services And Eligibility Assessments (Resea) Process Analysis Report, Gabrielle Pepin, Christopher J. O'Leary, Aaron Sojourner

Upjohn Institute Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Ai Exposure And The Future Of Work: Linking Task-Based Measures To U.S. Occupational Employment Projections, Erik Vasilauskas, Michael Horrigan

Reports

No abstract provided.

Men Not At Work In Mountain West States, 2024, Maisoon Faris, Otoniel Ramos, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

This fact sheet presents December 2024 data on male labor force participation in the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The “Men at work: Trends and metrics” report published by the American Institute for Boys and Men (AIBM) provides data on the percentages and numbers of men not in the labor force and divides them into different categories. This fact sheet focuses on the total male population aged 25- 54 not in the labor force due to disability, retirement, or other reasons.

Women’S Mba Peers Affect Their Course Choices, Career Paths, And The Gender Pay Gap, Mallika Thomas

Upjohn Institute Policy and Research Briefs

No abstract provided.

Upper Peninsula Regional Economic Development Strategy, Iryna V. Lendel, Chloe Wieber, Gerrit Anderson, Sevrin Williams

Upjohn Institute Technical Reports

This comprehensive report describes the economy of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, outlining both persistent issues and emerging opportunities. The region faces several structural challenges, including a decline in prime-age workers and bachelor’s degree attainment that falls below state and national averages, while shortages in housing and healthcare further limit its ability to attract and retain residents. Despite those challenges, the U.P.’s universities, longstanding industries, abundant natural resources, and robust outdoor recreation economy provide strong foundations for future development. The report recommends strategies such as strengthening retention of the talent pipeline, expanding housing and healthcare capacity, fostering small and mid-sized firms in …

Pentingkah Pekerjaan Ibu Dalam Literasi Anak Di Indonesia?, Dien Amalina Nur Asrofi, Muhammad Salahudin Al Ayyubi

Jurnal Ekonomi Kependudukan dan Keluarga

This study aims to analyze the impact of maternal employment status and job type on children's literacy skills in Indonesia, using data from the 2023 National Socioeconomic Survey (SUSENAS) and a binary logistic regression approach. The results show that working mothers, particularly those in the formal sector, are positively and significantly correlated with children's literacy, especially in non-poor households. These findings highlight the important role of maternal employment contribution in strengthening educational investment within families. In contrast, among poor households, formal employment of mothers does not significantly influence children's literacy, indicating that economic constraints remain a major barrier. In addition, …

What Kind Of Economists Do We Want? From A One-Track To A Two-Track Mind, Magnus Henrekson, Lars Jonung, Mats Lundahl

Economic and Business Review

We explore the challenges facing the current academic training of economists in small European countries such as Sweden. The monolithic focus on publishing in the top-five journals, which prioritizes methodological rigor over problem-driven research, is often a threat to social relevance and policy applicability. This limits pluralism, excludes many talented economists, and fails to prepare graduates for nonacademic positions. We propose a two-track model for PhD training and academic evaluation, emphasizing both traditional research and applied economic policy, tailored to the diverse needs of academia, public administration, and business. We also argue for broader evaluation criteria, enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration, and …

Exploring The Landscape Of Teacher Applications, Dan Goldhaber, Cyrus Grout, Constance A. Lindsay, Elton Mykerezi, Aaron Sojourner, Lauren Dachille

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

Despite widespread concern about teacher shortages, there is little evidence on when teaching positions are posted and how many people apply for them. Using detailed job-posting and application data on nearly 57,000 applicants from 19 traditional school districts and 24 charter organizations, we provide descriptive evidence on the timing of job postings, the supply of applicants, and the characteristics of applicants, emphasizing how each varies across organizations and between the district and charter sectors. We find that late hiring is less prevalent than prior single-district studies suggest—about 11% of openings are posted late—but varies widely across organizations. Applicant supply differs …

Analisis Dampak Kebijakan Insentif Fiskal Terhadap Tingkat Komponen Dalam Negeri (Tkdn) Industri Manufaktur Di Indonesia, Muhammad Muhammad, Riyanto Riyanto

Jurnal Kebijakan Ekonomi

Over the last decade, the manufacturing sector's contribution to Indonesia's economy has declined. In 2010, it was 29.10% of GDP, but by 2022, it had dropped to 19.14%. Employment in the sector also fell, from 14.91% of the workforce in 2010 to 13.80% in 2022. To reverse this trend, the government introduced a policy to boost the Domestic Component Level (DCL) in manufacturing. By offering fiscal incentives to industries meeting certain DCL targets, the government aims to drive economic growth and job creation. A study using BPS data from 2008-2019 shows that this policy raised DCL by 23.5%.

Abundance Strategies Should Promote Abundant Jobs In Distressed Places, Timothy J. Bartik

Upjohn Institute Policy Papers

A prominent recent policy debate is about “abundance policies”: policies to make it easier to build housing or infrastructure, deliver government services more quickly and more efficiently, and expedite the public funding of the most innovative and socially impactful research. In this essay, I argue that abundance advocates often mistakenly ignore or have a negative attitude toward “place-based policies.” These place-based policies would seek to increase employment rates, particularly in good jobs, in two types of distressed places that lack abundant job opportunities: distressed local labor markets and distressed neighborhoods. Both the goals and means of place-based policies fit into …

Nba Player Types And Salaries: Assessing The Disparities In Pay, Nick Riccardi, Rodney J. Paul

Sport Management - All Scholarship

The purpose of this study was to identify player types that exist in the modern National Basketball Association (NBA), test whether player types are paid differently controlling for performance and other factors and construct successful rosters with cheaper payrolls.
We collected performance statistics and salary data for players and teams across five seasons (2018-19 to 2022-23). Cluster analysis is leveraged to group together player-seasons to identify the player types that exist in the NBA. Linear regression models are run to test for differences in pay by cluster membership while controlling for performance, age, and contractual details. Linear programming simulation models …

Family Ties: Nba Draft Position And Player Performance, Nick Riccardi, Rodney J. Paul

Sport Management - All Scholarship

This study aims to investigate the role, if any, that nepotism plays in the careers of players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Career performance is compared between the 780 players drafted from 2007-2019 with familial relationships considered. Ordinary Least Squares and logistic regression models are specified to estimate the effect of having a relative on the success of an NBA player’s career. We find that siblings of NBA players earn more and reach minimum games played thresholds more often, while sons of NBA players earn more, but generally do not reach games played thresholds more often than similarly-drafted peers.

The State Of The Unions 2025: A Profile Of Organized Labor In New York City, New York State, And The United States, Ruth Milkman, Joseph Van Der Naald

Publications and Research

Organized labor has taken center stage in the 2020s, with workers leading successful organizing drives at Amazon, Starbucks, Apple, and across a range of industries from health care to higher education. Public approval of unions has reached its highest level in decades, and a new generation of workers is stepping forward as leaders in the movement. The State of the Unions 2025 provides the most comprehensive profile of organized labor in New York City, New York State, and the United States, highlighting where unions are growing, who is leading the charge, and how labor is shaping the future of work …

Do The Theoretical Frameworks Surrounding Union Wage Negotiations Align With Empirical Data?, Sajid Bin Hasnat

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This paper investigates whether the strategic bargaining models developed in game theory align with outcomes observed in laboratory and field settings. We aim to synthesize theoretical literature with experimental and field data to assess the predictive power of game-theoretic models in labor-union wage negotiation contexts. We analyze Rubinstein's bargaining model and its extensions, focusing on how relaxed assumptions affect equilibrium behavior, gains from trade, and dispute occurrence. The theoretical analysis reveals that many bargaining failures stem from asymmetric information between both parties, where delay, transaction costs, deadlines, and reputational effects lead to distinct equilibrium predictions. To test these theoretical predictions, …

Evaluating The Tvr-Set: Insights Into Self-Employment From Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Catherine Ipsen, Luke Santore

Employment

This report examines the impact of pilot training on the use of the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Self-Employment Toolkit (TVR-SET), developed to support American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (AIVRS) programs. Of the 574 federally recognized Tribes in the U.S., 93 administer AIVRS programs aimed at improving employment outcomes for American Indians with disabilities. Self-employment is a vital pathway in reservation communities, promoting economic independence and cultural preservation. However, AIVRS programs face challenges in staff training and resources. The TVR-SET and its accompanying training address these gaps, enhancing counselors’ capacity to guide consumers in self-employment exploration and business development.

Essays On The Impact Of Childbirth On Parenthood And Childcare, Titir Dey

All Dissertations

This dissertation studies the impact of childbirth and parenthood on the labor market outcomes and decisions of parents. Of the three chapters, the first two talk about how childbirth affects the labor supply decisions of the parents and the subsequent impact on earnings. The third chapter talks about the effect of disruption in the childcare arrangements on the employment outcomes of parents during the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

The first chapter measures the short- and long-run declines (penalties) in annual earnings associated with the first childbirth for parents in the United States by exploiting the heterogeneity in their gender, educational attainment …

Determinan Kesejahteraan Anak Usia Dini Dalam Keluarga Dengan Kepala Rumah Tangga Perempuan Di Indonesia, Axellina M. Setyanti, Wildan Syafitri

Jurnal Ekonomi Kependudukan dan Keluarga

This study analyzes the determinants of early childhood well-being in female-headed households in Indonesia using data from the 2022 National Socioeconomic Survey (SUSENAS), covering 85,074 households with children aged 0–5 years. Using binary logistic regression, the analysis focuses on four key indicators: complete immunization, food adequacy, access to improved sanitation, and access to safe drinking water. The results show that children in female-headed households are significantly less likely to receive adequate and diverse food as well as complete immunization, compared to those in male-headed households. However, these households are more likely to provide access to improved sanitation and safe drinking …

Side-Hustle Dalam Dinamika Kemiskinan Pekerja: Tinjauan Empiris Di Indonesia, Christiayu Natalia, Fx Gugus Febri Putranto

Jurnal Ekonomi Kependudukan dan Keluarga

Working poverty remains a persistent issue in Indonesia. The high prevalence of working poor underscores the urgent need for effective poverty alleviation efforts. This study analyzes the relationship between side hustles, excessive working hours, and working poverty in Indonesia. Utilizing microdata from the March 2023 Susenas and applying binary logistic regression, the study assesses the effect of side hustle status and excessive working hours on the likelihood of being categorized as working poor, based on the international working poverty line. The results indicate that engaging in a side hustle without excessive hours actually increases the risk of working poverty, while …

Unpaid Parental Caregiving And Employment Status In Indonesia, Christopher Willy, Rafa Fayza Afrizal, Irvel Christa Fabian, Muhammad Farras Samith

Jurnal Ekonomi Kependudukan dan Keluarga

This study examines the impact of unpaid parental caregiving on employment status and formal sector employment opportunities in Indonesia, using panel data from the 2007 and 2014 waves of the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS). Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was applied to mitigate selection bias and estimate the Average Treatment effect on the Treated (ATT) for three caregiver categories: temporary, recent, and continuous. Results indicate that, after controlling for baseline characteristics, none of the caregiver categories significantly affected the probability of being employed or employed in the formal sector in 2014. The findings suggest that caregiving practices in Indonesia generally …

More Schooling Can Delay The Onset Of Dementia Later In Life, Vikesh Amin, Jere R. Behrman, Jason M. Fletcher, Carlos A. Flores, Alfonso Flores-Lagunes, Iliana Kohler, Hans-Peter Kohler, Shana D. Stites

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

How The H-2b Visa Lottery Helped Businesses During Covid, Parag Mahajan

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

The Evolution Of Schooling: From Industrial Obedience To Techno-Autonomy, Seb Taylor, Ron Roberts Ii

Digital Laboratory: Publisher of Internet Journal

This paper examines the enduring architecture of the American education system as a mechanism designed for compliance, not creativity. Rooted in 19th-century industrial logic, the structure of schooling, its physical design, time constraints, and assessment methods, has remained largely static despite seismic cultural and technological shifts. Through historical analysis and contemporary critique, this work interrogates the persistence of standardized methods, institutional prestige, and top-down instruction as barriers to meaningful learning and value creation. Drawing from interdisciplinary research and live case studies, including Alpha School’s AI-powered, mastery-based model, the paper advances the concept of techno-education: a student-centered paradigm informed by feedback …

Short-Run Fiscal Effects Of Expanding Michigan's Preschool Program To Be Universal, Timothy J. Bartik

Upjohn Institute Policy Papers

This policy paper provides some updated estimates of the short-run fiscal effects of expanding Michigan’s state-funded preschool program, the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), to encompass universal access for Michigan’s four-year-olds. This is an update to Policy Paper No. 2025-034, which analyzed the economic and fiscal effects of Michigan’s current GSRP program as compared to the state having no program. The update takes advantage of a high-quality recent study of the economic effects of universal preschool programs in nine states, authored by Jackson, Turner, and Bastian (2025). Using the estimated economic effects of universal preschool from this recent study, …

Effects Of Fair Workweek Laws On Labor Market Outcomes, Joseph Pickens, Aaron Sojourner

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

This paper models fair workweek regulations that require employers to provide employees with (1) schedule predictability via advance notice of their work schedule and premium payments for short-notice changes, and (2) access to hours meaning they must offer open hours to existing employees before hiring new workers. We develop a theoretical model of employers’ responses to these provisions and their implications for employment. Guided by the model, we estimate the effects of recently-adopted fair workweek regulation in New York City’s fast-food sector using a synthetic difference-in-differences design. We find a null employment effect.

Accounting, Marketing, And Technology Needs Of Black Women Business Owners In Pennsylvania Economically Distressed Communities, Darlene Booth-Bell

Pennsylvania Economic Review

In this study, we examine the survey and asynchronous interview responses of thirty-six Black women business owners to determine their self-identified needs in accounting, marketing, technology, and other business services such as supply chain knowledge, and technology. Our participants are located in small, economically distressed towns in Pennsylvania, where the number of families living below the poverty line is greater than the national average, and other indicators place these towns in a category of economically distressed. Respondents indicated a need for assistance with cash flow management and access to capital. Respondents also indicated a need for assistance with networking, online …

Estimating How Much Children Work: Questionnaires Versus Time Use Diaries, Juana Lamote De Grignon Pérez, Wenbin Wang, Tanay Kasyap, Matthew Henglong Luo, Jialu Tang

Discussion Papers

Current estimates of child labour often rely on questions such as, “How many hours did you work last week?” While biases in adult self-reports are well-documented in high-income countries, there is limited evidence on the accuracy of children’s responses in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Using data from nine LMICs, including China and India, this paper shows that time diaries report more than twice as many work hours as standard questionnaires. This discrepancy suggests that current estimates may significantly understate child labour. Moreover, certain forms of work—such as collecting water or firewood—appear to contribute to these measurement gaps.