Estimates of the Frisch Elasticity of Labor Supply: A Review

The intertemporal substitution (Frisch) elasticity of labor supply governs the predictions of real business cycle models and models of taxation. We show that, for the extensive margin elasticity, two biases conspire to systematically produce large positive estimates when the elasticity is in fact zero. Among 723 estimates in 36 studies, the mean reported elasticity is 0.5. One half of that number is due to publication bias: larger estimates are reported preferentially. The other half is due to identification bias: studies with less exogenous time variation in wages report larger elasticities. Net of the biases, the literature implies a zero mean elasticity and, with 95% confidence, is inconsistent with calibrations above 0.25. To derive these results we collect 23 variables that reflect the context in which the elasticity was obtained, use nonlinear techniques to correct for publication bias, and employ Bayesian and frequentist model averaging to address model uncertainty.

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Estimating intertemporal elasticity of substitution of labor supply for married women in Russia

Applied Econometrics ◽

10.22394/1993-7601-2021-64-23-48 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 23-48

Author(s):

Alexey Zamnius ◽

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Andrey Polbin ◽

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Keyword(s):

Labor Supply ◽

Dynamic Optimization ◽

Optimization Problem ◽

Married Women ◽

Elasticity Of Substitution ◽

Supply Function ◽

Dynamic Optimization Problem ◽

Number Of Children ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Frisch Elasticity

This paper provides an econometric analysis of the labor supply function of married women in Russia based on data from RLMS HSE and methodology from the work (Heckman, MaCurdy, 1980), in which decisions about entering the labor market and the intensity of work are made within a dynamic optimization problem. It is shown that the husband’s leisure and the number of children living in the household have a negative effect on the woman’s hours worked. The estimate of the Frisch elasticity of labor supply with respect to wages lies near 0.16.

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Implications of higher retirement age for the labor market

Voprosy Ekonomiki ◽

10.32609/0042-8736-2017-3-22-39 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 22-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

M. Ivanova ◽

A. Balaev ◽

E. Gurvich

Keyword(s):

Economic Growth ◽

Labor Market ◽

Labor Supply ◽

Labor Force ◽

Labor Demand ◽

Retirement Age ◽

Demographic Trends ◽

Men And Women ◽

Demographic Projections ◽

The Impact

The paper considers the impact of the increase in retirement age on labor supply and economic growth. Combining own estimates of labor participation and demographic projections by the Rosstat, the authors predict marked fall in the labor force (by 5.6 million persons over 2016-2030). Labor demand is also going down but to a lesser degree. If vigorous measures are not implemented, the labor force shortage will reach 6% of the labor force by the period end, thus restraining economic growth. Even rapid and ambitious increase in the retirement age (by 1 year each year to 65 years for both men and women) can only partially mitigate the adverse consequences of demographic trends.

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