This paper presents the specification and estimation of a search model applied to the transition from education to work. The theoretical search model includes the possibility of variable search intensity. The empirical model with a reservation wage relation is estimated using maximum likelihood methods. A data set containing information on new law graduates is used for the estimation. Finally, the model is estimated for two separate subperiods to investigate the effects of market changes.

A risk neutral principal wishes to exact a payment from a risk neutral agent whose wealth he does not know, but may verify through a costly auditing procedure. We characterize efficient schemes for the principal when he is allowed to choose schedules for preaudit and postaudit payments and audit probabilities, subject to the constraint that only monetary incentives can be used and that the principal may never make a net payment to the agent. The main results are that efficient schemes involve preaudit payments which are increasing in the agent's wealth, audit probabilities are decreasing in the agent's wealth and also satisfy certain constraints as equalities. In general, such schemes involve stochastic auditing and rebates after an audit.