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Optimal Coexistence of Long-Term and Short-Term Contracts in Labor Markets

Author

Listed:
  • Inés Macho-Stadler
  • David Pérez-Castrillo
  • Nicolés Porteiro
Abstract
We consider a market where firms hire workers to run their projects and such projects differ in profitability. At any period, each firm needs two workers to successfully run its project: a junior agent, with no specific skills, and a senior worker, whose effort is not verifiable. Senior workers differ in ability and their competence is revealed after they have worked as juniors in the market. We study the length of the contractual relationships between firms and workers in an environment where the matching between firms and workers is the result of market interaction. We show that, despite in a one-firm-one-worker set-up long-term contracts are the optimal choice for firms, market forces often induce firms to use short-term contracts. Unless the market only consists of firms with very profitable projects, firms operating highly profitable projects offer short-term contracts to ensure the service of high-ability workers and those with less lucrative projects also use short-term contracts to save on the junior workers' wage. Intermediate firms may (or may not) hire workers through long-term contracts.

Suggested Citation

  • Inés Macho-Stadler & David Pérez-Castrillo & Nicolés Porteiro, 2011. "Optimal Coexistence of Long-Term and Short-Term Contracts in Labor Markets," Working Papers 557, Barcelona School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:bge:wpaper:557
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Etienne Wasmer & Nicolas Lepage-Saucier & Juliette Schleich, 2013. "Moving towards a single labour contract: pros, cons and mixed feelings," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03460980, HAL.
    2. Pierre Cahuc & Olivier Charlot & Franck Malherbet, 2016. "Explaining The Spread Of Temporary Jobs And Its Impact On Labor Turnover," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 57(2), pages 533-572, May.
    3. Tejada, Mauricio M., 2017. "Dual labor markets and labor protection in an estimated search and matching model," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 26-46.
    4. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/772g8m5php8ui8eticr0ak867g is not listed on IDEAS
    5. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/772g8m5php8ui8eticr0ak867g is not listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    moral hazard; long-term contracts; equilibrium contracts;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law
    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory

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