2007 Reports

Differential Effects of Graduating during a Recession across Race and Gender

Kondo, Ayako

This paper examines the differential effects of the unemployment rate at entry to the labor market, defined as completion of education, on subsequent wages across race and gender. Economic theories about search frictions, human capital accumulation and the internal labor markets all predict less persistence for low skilled or disadvantaged workers and weaker effects on those with weak attachment to the labor force. Consistent with these predictions, the author finds that the effect fades faster for blacks, although the initial impact of a recession at entry is stronger for them. The study also find weaker effects for women.