Job Search and Commuting Time

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Abstract
We structurally analyze a job-search model for unemployed individuals that allows jobs to have different wage/commuting-time combinations. The structural parameter of interest is the degree of willingness to pay for commuting time. We use a unique dataset containing responses by unemployed individuals on the optimal search strategy to estimate this parameter without the need to rely on functional-form assumptions. We address specification errors in the model and measurement errors in the data. The results identify types of individuals who have a high disutility of commuting time.