Job mobility, wage dispersion, and technological change: An asymmetric information perspective

This paper develops a model of job mobility and wage dispersion with asymmetric information. Contrary to existing models in which the superior information of current employers leads to market collapse, this model generates a unique equilibrium outcome in which (a) positive turnover exists and (b) identical workers may be paid differently. The model implies that, in the presence of technological change that is skill-biased and favors general skills over firm-specific skills, the wage distribution becomes more spread out (corresponding to greater inequality) and job mobility increases.

► This paper studies job mobility and wage dispersion with asymmetric information. ► It completely characterizes the turnover probability and the residual wage distribution. ► Skill-biased technological changes affect both the wage distribution and job mobility.