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Essays in labor and public economics

Abstract

This dissertation explores three topics in labor and public economics. Chapter 1 studies how coordination of hours among coworkers affects labor supply decisions and wage rates. Using rich data from Denmark we find that greater coordination of hours within firms is associated with higher wages, attenuated response to tax rate changes and spillover effects on hours worked by workers who are not directly affected by a tax change. Chapter 2 estimates the short-term effects of migration on employment of native workers in Italy using the exogenous, unanticipated and temporary migration resulting from the Arab Spring. I find significant and offsetting short-term effects across industries. The positive employment effects are consistent with a rise in sectoral employment operating through increased demand from immigrants. Both positive and negative effects on employment tend to dissipate over time. Chapter 3 uses rich data from Brazil to show evidence that exporters prepare to export by hiring workers from other exporters. We also show that poaching workers from other exporters is a strong predictor of various aspects of export-market success at the poaching firm.

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