Urban Labor Economics
Published on 27. April 2009
Book
Hardback
524 pages
978-0-521-87538-7 (ISBN)
Description
This book studies the links between urban economics and labor economics. Different models of urban labor economic theory are examined in the initial two parts of this book: first urban search-matching models and then urban efficiency wages. These models are then used to analyze urban ghettos and their consequences for ethnic minorities in the labor market. Professor Zenou first provides different mechanisms for the so-called spatial mismatch hypothesis, which postulates that housing discrimination introduces a key frictional factor that prevents minorities from improving access to job opportunities by relocating their residences closer to jobs. He then explores social networks, which tend to be affected by spatial factors, as workers who are physically close to jobs can be socially far away from them. Based on these models, the author offers different policies aiming at fighting high unemployment rates experienced by ethnic minorities residing in segregated areas.
Reviews / Votes
'In the field of urban economics, this is exactly the kind of book that I have been waiting for. Based on his persistent research work over the past twenty years, Zenou has done a great job of presenting a unified theory of urban labor economics, in which land markets and labor markets are linked in an integrated manner. After introducing the main theoretical ingredients systematically, the book addresses major policy issues, such as urban unemployment, ghettos, labor market networks, and spatial mismatches between minorities' residences and job locations. This book is a must for both urban economists and labor economists interested in cities as well as for urban policy makers.' Masahisa Fujita, Institute of Economic Research, Kyoto University (KIER), Japan 'Economists have begun to unravel how geography and the labor market interact to influence the extent of urban poverty and race discrimination. In this book Yves Zenou, a leader in the field, reviews and unites the literature in a way that is accessible to advanced students and useful to specialists.' Kevin Lang, Boston University 'The modern theory of labour markets and the modern theory of urban economics grew independently from each other but the parallels are obvious. Search and matching theory is about bringing disparate jobs and workers together to form productive matches. Urban economics is about the location of economic activity and residential housing. In recent years, Yves Zenou has been one of the pioneer match-makers for the two strands of theory. In this book he patiently develops the key ideas in each theory and shows how a rich equilibrium is obtained with explicit land use and labour frictions. It should be a standard reference both for labour economists wanting to bring land as a scarce factor in their models and for urban economists wanting to learn about the implications of search and matching frictions or efficiency wages for land use.' Christopher Pissarides, London School of Economics 'Yves Zenou provides a lucid theoretical analysis of wage and employment determination in cities. Up to date and comprehensive in its coverage; a brilliant achievement.' Yoram Weiss, Tel-Aviv University, IsraelMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
22 Tables, unspecified; 71 Line drawings, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
993 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-87538-7 (9780521875387)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Yves Zenou
Urban Labor Economics
E-Book
07/2009
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€38.49
Available for download
Yves Zenou
Urban Labor Economics
Book
04/2009
Cambridge University Press
€64.90
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Yves Zenou is Professor of Economics at Stockholm University and a Senior Research Fellow at the Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN). He is also affiliated with the Groupe d'Analyse des Itineraires et Niveaux Salariaux (GAINS, Le Mans, France), the Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR, London), and the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA, Bonn). He was previously Professor of Economics at the University of Southampton, UK, and a Research Fellow at the Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE, Belgium). Yves Zenou has also been a visiting professor at the European University Institute in Florence and Tel Aviv University. He is editor of Regional Science and Urban Economics and associate editor of the Journal of Urban Economics. His publications have appeared in leading journals such as Econometrica, Review of Economic Studies, the Journal of Economic Theory, International Economic Review, the Journal of Labor Economics, and the Journal of Public Economics.
Content
Introduction; Part I. Urban Search-Matching: 1. Simple models of urban search-matching; 2. Extensions of urban search-matching models; 3. Non-monocentric cities and search-matching; Part II. Urban Efficiency Wages: 4. Simple models of urban efficiency wages; 5. Extensions of urban efficiency wage models; 6. Non-monocentric cities and efficiency wages; Part III. Urban Ghettos and the Labor Market: 7. The spatial mismatch hypothesis: a search-matching approach; 8. The spatial mismatch hypothesis: an efficiency-wage approach; 9. Peer effects, social networks, and labor market outcomes in cities; General conclusion.