Network effects across the earnings distribution: payoffs to visible and invisible job finding assistance.
Soc Sci Res
; 49: 299-313, 2015 Jan.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25432620
ABSTRACT
This study makes three critical contributions to the "Do Contacts Matter?" debate. First, the widely reported null relationship between informal job searching and wages is shown to be mostly the artifact of a coding error and sample selection restrictions. Second, previous analyses examined only active informal job searching without fully considering the benefits derived from unsolicited network assistance (the "invisible hand of social capital") - thereby underestimating the network effect. Third, wage returns to networks are examined across the earnings distribution. Longitudinal data from the NLSY reveal significant wage returns for network-based job finding over formal job searching, especially for individuals who were informally recruited into their jobs (non-searchers). Fixed effects quantile regression analyses show that contacts generate wage premiums among middle and high wage jobs, but not low wage jobs. These findings challenge conventional wisdom on contact effects and advance understanding of how social networks affect wage attainment and inequality.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Salários e Benefícios
/
Apoio Social
/
Emprego
/
Capital Social
/
Renda
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Soc Sci Res
Ano de publicação:
2015
Tipo de documento:
Article