The Wage Distribution in a Model of the Assignment of Skills to Jobs

Abstract

This paper discusses a general equilibrium model of the assignment of heterogeneous workers to heterogeneous jobs. Both jobs and workers are measured along a continuous one-dimensional scale. The composition of labor supply is represented by a distribution function. Highly skilled workers have an absolute advantage in all jobs and a comparative advantage in complex jobs. Equilibrium is characterized by a mapping of skills on complexities. The model is able simultaneously to explain the remuneration of skill, the allocation of skills to jobs, and variations in labor demand per job type. Estimation results for the Netherlands offer support for its relevance. Copyright 1995 by University of Chicago Press.