Culture, Work Attitudes and Job Search: Evidence from the Swiss Language Border
Journal
Journal of the European Economic Association
ISSN
1542-4766
ISSN-Digital
1542-4774
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2017-10
Author(s)
Abstract
Unemployment varies across space and in time. Can attitudes towards work explain some of these differences? We study job search durations along the Swiss language border, sharply separating Romance language speakers from German speakers. According to surveys and voting results, the language border separates two social groups with different cultural background and attitudes towards work. Despite similar local labor markets and identical institutions, Romance language speakers search for work almost seven weeks (or 22%) longer than their German speaking neighbors. This is a quantitatively large effect, comparable to a large change in unemployment insurance generosity.
Language
English
Keywords
culture
preferences
values
norms
unemployment duration
regional unemployment
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
HSG Profile Area
SEPS - Economic Policy
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Publisher place
Oxford
Volume
15
Number
5
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
248442