Technology Diffusion, Worker Mobility and the Returns to Skill

51 Pages Posted: 25 Jul 2015

See all articles by Damir Stijepic

Damir Stijepic

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Date Written: January 24, 2015

Abstract

In this paper I illustrate how the diffusion across firms of a skill-neutral technology leads to a skill-biased impact on the economy. The model identifies (i) differences in inter-firm mobility between skill groups, (ii) productivity dispersion across firms within industries, and (iii) differences in wages between small and large firms as key determinants of the skill premium. Calibrated to match differences in inter-firm mobility between skill groups and rising productivity dispersion across firms, the model ascribes one-third of the sharp increase in the skill premium in U.S. manufacturing from 1977 to 1997 to skill-neutral technical progress and the technology diffusion process itself. Technical progress complementing high-skill workers accounts for three-fifths of the increase in the skill premium.

Keywords: wage inequality, technical change, heterogeneous firms, frictional labor markets, on-the-job search, sorting, versatility

JEL Classification: J31, J62, I24, I26, O33

Suggested Citation

Stijepic, Damir, Technology Diffusion, Worker Mobility and the Returns to Skill (January 24, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2635538 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2635538

Damir Stijepic (Contact Author)

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz ( email )

Jakob-Welder-Weg 9
Mainz, 55128
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.damir.stijepic.com

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