Zusammenfassung
Der Beitrag analysiert die regionale Variation der geschlechtsspezifischen Partizipationsraten. Wir entwickeln zunächst ein suchtheoretisches Modell, das von intertemporaler Optimierung der Individuen ausgeht. Das Modell führt zur Aussage, dass ein höheres regionales Lohnniveau die Partizipation begünstigt, während höhere Arbeitsplatzunsicherheit die Partizipation senkt. Weiterhin sollte dem Modell zufolge eine stärkere Lohndispersion den Wert der Suche erhöhen und damit die Wahrscheinlichkeit der Teilnahme am Erwerbsleben vergrößern.
Unter Verwendung eines Ansatzes der räumlichen Ökonometrie untersuchen wir die Bestimmungsgründe der geschlechtsspezifischen Partizipationsraten in einem umfassenden Modell, das auch soziodemographische und räumliche Merkmale einschließt und Unterschiede zwischen West- und Ostdeutschland ausdrücklich zulässt. Wir können generell nachweisen, dass die räumlichen Unterschiede im Partizipationsverhalten beider Geschlechter durch ökonomische Variablen getrieben werden. Arbeitslosigkeit senkt die Neigung, am Erwerbsleben teilzunehmen, während sich ein höheres Lohnniveau positiv auswirkt. Diese Resultate sind im Einklang mit den theoretischen Erwartungen. Im Unterschied zu den Implikationen des Modells mit Risikoneutralität der Individuen können wir empirisch belegen, dass höhere Lohnungleichheit tendenziell nicht zu einer Erhöhung, sondern zu einer Reduktion der Partizipationswahrscheinlichkeit führt. Wir ziehen daraus die Schlussfolgerung, dass das suchtheoretische Rahmenmodell nicht in der Lage ist, alle Aspekte des Partizipationsverhaltens angemessen zu erklären.
Abstract
The paper analyzes the variation of gender-specific labor-market participation rates at the regional level. We first develop a search-theoretical model with inter-temporal optimization behavior of agents. The model suggests that a higher regional wage level fosters participation, while higher job insecurity as measured by the unemployment rate discourages workers. Moreover, a high wage dispersion increases the value of search and should lead to higher participation rates.
Using a spatial econometric approach we investigate the determinants of gender-specific participation in a comprehensive empirical model where differences between West and East Germany are explicitly accounted for. We generally find that variation in regional participation rates in driven by economic forces. Unemployment depresses labor-market participation of male and female workers in both parts of the country, while a higher wage level stimulates it. This is in line with theoretical predictions. However, contrary to the implications of a model with risk-neutral individuals, our results show that higher wage dispersion in the left tail of the wage distribution tends to lower participation. We conclude that the inter-temporal search-theoretical framework assuming risk-neutral individuals is not able to cover all major aspects of participation behavior.
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Möller, J., Aldashev, A. Interregional differences in labor market participation. Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft 26, 25–50 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10037-005-0076-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10037-005-0076-3
Keywords
- Regional participation behavior
- search models
- wage inequality
- German unification
- spatial econometrics
- spatial weight matrix