Abstract
We develop a business cycle model that generates asymmetry between peaks and troughs of the unemployment rate and symmetric fluctuations of the participation rate as in the U.S. data. We calibrate the model and find that search frictions are solely responsible for the peak–trough asymmetry. Participation decisions do not generate asymmetry but contribute to the fluctuations in search frictions by changing the size and composition of the pool of job seekers, which in turn affects the tightness ratio and thereby slack in the labor market. The participation rate would be counterfactually asymmetric absent labor supply responses to shocks.
Original language | English (US) |
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Journal | Journal of Money, Credit and Banking |
DOIs | |
State | Accepted/In press - 2022 |
Keywords
- asymmetric business cycles
- employment
- labor force participation rate
- labor supply
- search frictions
- unemployment rate
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Accounting
- Finance
- Economics and Econometrics