The spatial clustering of occupations
Name
890150673-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
1.97 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
871e4dfd56db9afd15fd63ce72fd28df
Author(s)
Swift, Henry Spencer
Advisor(s)
Michael Greenstone.
Date Issued
2014
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Workers in similar occupations cluster, much like firms in similar industries. This may be due to firm clustering, but I propose a supply-side mechanism that may also provide an explanation. When workers face a risk of separation from a particular job, they will consider the other jobs available in a particular area in their location decision. Based on this theory I make three predictions. Workers will tend to cluster in areas where their skills are in high demand. They will be paid less in these areas, ceteris paribus. And demand shocks will affect workers' wages less, and employment more, in areas where their skills are in high demand. I test this mechanism using data from the decennial U.S. Census. I use O*NET data on occupational tasks to construct a measure of occupational distance. I then estimate labor supply curves to determine to test the predictions of the theory. I do not find substantial evidence for this mechanism.
Description
Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Economics, 2014.
"June 2014." Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 42-44).
Subjects
Economics.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Economics
Terms of Use
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