Exploration for Human Capital: Evidence from the MBA Labor Market

36 Pages Posted: 14 Mar 2012 Last revised: 20 May 2015

See all articles by Camelia M. Kuhnen

Camelia M. Kuhnen

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill - Finance Area

Paul Oyer

Stanford Graduate School of Business; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: March 1, 2015

Abstract

We empirically investigate the effect of uncertainty on corporate hiring. Using novel data from the labor market for MBA graduates, we show that uncertainty regarding how well job candidates fit with a firm’s industry hinders hiring, and that firms value probationary work arrangements that provide the option to learn more about potential full-time employees. The detrimental effect of uncertainty on hiring is more pronounced when firms face greater firing and replacement costs, and when they face less direct competition from other similar firms. These results suggest that firms faced with uncertainty use similar considerations when making hiring decisions as when making decisions regarding investment in physical capital.

Keywords: Corporate investment, human capital, hiring

JEL Classification: G31, M51, J44

Suggested Citation

Kuhnen, Camelia M. and Oyer, Paul, Exploration for Human Capital: Evidence from the MBA Labor Market (March 1, 2015). Journal of Labor Economics, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2021363 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2021363

Camelia M. Kuhnen (Contact Author)

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill - Finance Area ( email )

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
300 Kenan Center Dr., MC #4407
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3490
United States
(919) 9623284 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://sites.google.com/view/cameliakuhnen/

Paul Oyer

Stanford Graduate School of Business ( email )

655 Knight Way
Stanford, CA 94305-5015
United States
650-736-1047 (Phone)
650-725-0468 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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