|
on Informal and Underground Economics |
| By: | Cardenas, J |
| Abstract: | Unemployment and informality are widespread phenomena in the Colombian economy that affect people with different profiles. This working paper discusses how the vacancy database can be used to build a detection system of skill shortages. Also, it elaborates on, for the first time in Colombia, a set of macro indicators within the vacancy database’s labour demand and supply information for the identification of possible skill shortages. Finally, it illustrates how detailed information from vacancies (job descriptions) can be used to update occupational classifications (ISCO) and the labour force skills according to employers’ requirements. The results suggest low-skilled occupations tend to show more signs of oversupply: a considerably higher informality rate compared to other skill groups. On the other hand, the first quarter of the year for each occupation is characterised by higher unemployment rates and lower vacancy rates. The skill mismatch indicators for Colombia demonstrate that 30 occupations are currently in short supply. Therefore, the evidence suggests that formal labour market opportunities exist for people with different profiles in terms of age, education and work experience, amongst others. Based on these results, policymakers and education and training providers can promote and update policy/curriculums quickly, according to the current occupational labour demand structure and specific skills required, and the job seekers can receive relevant information regarding occupation shortages, and in this way, unemployed and informal people can make better and informed decisions about their training and job search. |
| Keywords: | Skill; Skill mismatches; Beveridge curve; online job portals; informality;unemployment |
| JEL: | J23 J24 J31 |
| Date: | 2020–01–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000561:018987&r=all |
| By: | Cardenas, J |
| Abstract: | This working paper discusses the concepts and theoretical framework to analyse the labour market, based on the information found on online job portals. Based on a model with imperfect information (which seems more appropriate to describe Colombian labour market outcomes), the first section explains how skill mismatches can arise and their consequences for informality and unemployment rates. In second section, presents evidence that skill shortages, unemployment and informality are highly occurring phenomena in Colombia; and, it is argued that workers, educational and training providers and the government can do little to address these issues because of a lack of proper information to monitor and identify employers’ requirements and possible skill shortages at an occupational level. In section 3 the concept of Big Data is introduced, with its advantages and limitations outlined for labour market analysis, this section explains the limitations and caveats to be considered when online vacancy data are used for economic analysis. |
| Keywords: | Skill; Skill shortages; big data; online job portals; informality; unemployment. |
| JEL: | J24 |
| Date: | 2020–01–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000561:018986&r=all |
| By: | Zamora, P; Mantilla, C; Blanco, M |
| Abstract: | We conducted an audit experiment to examine whether street vendors in Bogotá (Colombia) exert price discrimination based on buyers’ attributes, such as gender and nationality; and based on product characteristics, such as the increasing marginal valuation of items needed to complete a collection. We exploited the seasonal demand for album stickers related to the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018. In our within-subjects design, experimenters carried out inperson audits and quoted a pre-determined list of missing stickers. They interacted with 59 sticker vendors located in five geographic clusters. We find that prices quoted to foreign buyers are higher than prices quoted to Colombian buyers. By contrast, we do not find evidence supporting direct gender-based discrimination, neither that vendors charge a higher price per sticker when the list of missing stickers is shorter. We complement the study with a qualitative analysis based on interviews that reveal vendors’ pricing strategies, their awareness of price discrimination, and the trade of counterfeits. |
| Keywords: | Colombia; dual labor markets; football; Latin America; sports; street vendors |
| JEL: | C93 J46 |
| Date: | 2020–02–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000561:018988&r=all |
| By: | Garcia, D; Granda, C |
| Abstract: | Este trabajo tiene como objetivos ofrecer una visión panorámica acerca de la economía informal, sus determinantes y principales características en el caso colombiano; y, también, explorar las consecuencias de este fenómeno a nivel macroeconómico, enfatizando en los posibles efectos de la informalidad sobre los rasgos específicos de los ciclos económicos en los países emergentes, particularmente en el comportamiento de la política fiscal en Colombia. Para ello, se efectúa una revisión de la literatura pertinente buscando establecer conexiones entre estos aspectos. Se concluye que la debilidad institucional del país no solo incide en una proporción considerable de la economía informal con respecto al PIB, sino que refuerza el impacto de esta sobre la postura procíclica (o desestabilizadora) de la política fiscal. En este sentido, se requiere que el gobierno ajuste sus instrumentos de política en torno a una senda estabilizadora a la par que promueva la formalización laboral y empresarial. |
| Keywords: | Informalidad; ciclos económicos; política fiscal |
| JEL: | E32 H30 |
| Date: | 2019–12–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000561:018984&r=all |
| By: | Sepulveda, C; Gallego, J; Cardenas, J; Sarango, J; Ropero, S |
| Abstract: | En el mundo dinámico de hoy, comprender los requisitos laborales y ser capaz de reaccionar rápidamente a las necesidades emergentes de habilidades es clave para abordar el desajuste de habilidades y el éxito de todos los partícipes del mercado laboral. El presente estudio busca responder cuáles son los requerimientos de habilidades y conocimientos demandados para los jóvenes en Argentina, Chile, Colombia, México y Perú. Para este fin, se hace uso principalmente de dos fuentes de información: i) portales web de trabajo; y, ii) diccionario de capacidades proporcionado por la Clasificación Europea de capacidades/competencias, cualificaciones y ocupaciones (ESCO). La contribución a la literatura económica de este análisis es bidireccional, por un lado, un aporte metodológico a través de la proporción de un detalle sistemático para la construcción de una base de datos unificada de la demanda laboral y, por otro lado, un aporte empírico para la identificación de habilidades y conocimientos para la población joven. Entre los principales resultados del estudio se puede mencionar que: i) la demanda de conocimientos transversales y de conocimientos específicos de la ocupación son independientes de la demanda de otras categorías de conocimientos y habilidades; ii) en la región, en promedio, el 11.9% de las habilidades y conocimientos demandados por los empleadores son concebidas como esenciales por ESCO; iv) incrementos en la demanda de conocimientos transectoriales y específicos de la ocupación aumentan la probabilidad de que una vacante sea, potencialmente, para una persona joven; y v) un incremento en el número de habilidades (transversales, transectoriales, específicas del sector y específicas de la ocupación) demandadas disminuye la probabilidad de que una vacante sea dirigida a una persona joven. |
| Keywords: | Habilidades; brecha de habilidades; informalidad; mercado laboral juvenil |
| Date: | 2020–10–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000561:018991&r=all |