Bloemen, Hans G. 2005. “Job Search, Search Intensity, and Labor Market Transitions: An Empirical Analysis.” Journal of Human Resources 40(1): 231-269.

In this paper we present an empirical structural job search model with endogenously determined search intensity. The model describes both the behaviour of unemployed job seekers and on-the-job search. We use data on various indicators for the intensity of search to study the influence of the intensity of search on labour market transitions. The estimation results give us insight in the effectiveness of search. The impact of the benefit level on the search intensity of unemployed job seekers is quantified. Moreover, the estimation results are used to gain insight in the ‘discouraged worker’ effect.

Hans G. Bloemen is a professor of economics at the Free University of Amsterdam. He is grateful to two anonymous referees and Elena Stancanelli for their comments. He takes responsibility for all remaining errors. He would like to thank the Statistics Netherlands for providing the data. The author will provide guidance in applying for the data set from Statistics Netherlands, P.O. Box 4000, 2270 JM Voorburg, The Netherlands, should other researchers wish to replicate the statistical results. Hans G. Blocman, Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Free University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam. Email: hbloemen@feweb.vu.nl, phone: + 31 20 4446037.