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Journal of Economic Literature Vol. 53 No. 3 2015

The Beveridge Curve: A Survey

Michael Elsby1; Ryan Michaels2; David Ratner3

1 University of Edinburgh · 2 Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia · 3 Federal Reserve Board

open access

Abstract

Important progress has been made in economists' understanding of the Beveridge curve, from its measurement to its expression in canonical labor market models. Yet enduring puzzles remain. Chief among these are the empirical role of vacancies in the recruitment process; the amplitude, comovement, and persistence of cyclical unemployment–vacancy dynamics; and the sources of lateral shifts in the Beveridge curve. The synthesis of these themes identifies several priorities for ongoing research, including the role of entry costs into vacancy creation in shaping Beveridge dynamics; the cyclicality of search intensity, both off and on the job, and its relation to participation and job-to-job transitions; the theory and measurement of mismatch; and the sources of hysteresis in unemployment flows.

DOI
10.1257/jel.53.3.571
Volume
53
Issue
3
Pages
571-630
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref

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