In this work we provide a theoretical overview of a search equilibrium model with continuous productivity dispersion and perform its estimation for the Austrian data. We describe empirically the dynamics of market equilibrium outcomes. Special emphasis is made on the analysis of changes in...

We demonstrate that non-monotone behaviour of the right tail of earnings density may lead to the fact that nonparametric estimation of the Bontemps et al. (2000) equilibrium search model with employer heterogeneity does not yield consistent estimates. We propose an easy way of checking whether...

The distribution of unemployment duration in our equilibrium matching model with spell-dependent unemployment benefits displays a time-varying exit rate. Building on Semi-Markov processes, we translate these exit rates into an expression for the aggregate unemployment rate. Structural estimation...

We develop and estimate a non-stationary job search model to evaluate a scheme that monitors job search effort and sanctions insured unemployed whose effort is deemed insufficient. The model reveals that such schemes provide incentives to the unemployed to front-load search effort prior to...

By how much does an increase in operating effectiveness of a public employment agency (PEA) and a reduction of unemployment benefits reduce unemployment? Using a recent labour market reform in Germany as background, we find that an enhanced effectiveness of the PEA explains about 20% of the...