Does Labor Supply Matter During a Recession? Evidence from the Seasonal Cycle

33 Pages Posted: 13 Sep 2010 Last revised: 11 Sep 2024

See all articles by Casey B. Mulligan

Casey B. Mulligan

University of Chicago; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: September 2010

Abstract

Every year has large demand and supply shifts associated with the seasons, regardless of the phase of the business cycle. Based on measures dating back to the 1940s, the seasonal shifts reject the hypotheses that demand shifts affect employment outcomes significantly more in recession years than in non-recession years, and that supply shifts matter significantly less (if at all) in the recession years. My results are consistent with the hypothesis that recessions are characterized by labor market distortions that are neither alleviated by additional labor demand nor exacerbated by additional labor supply.

Suggested Citation

Mulligan, Casey B., Does Labor Supply Matter During a Recession? Evidence from the Seasonal Cycle (September 2010). NBER Working Paper No. w16357, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1674799

Casey B. Mulligan (Contact Author)

University of Chicago ( email )

1126 East 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
United States
773-702-9017 (Phone)
773-702-8490 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
39
Abstract Views
564
PlumX Metrics