Abstract:

Reservation wage is the minimum wage level at which a person is willing to accept work. This wage level represents the starting point of the individual labor supply curve. This study aims to determine the factors which have an effect on an unemployed person’s reservation wage. The survey prepared for this purpose was provided to unemployed individuals who applied to the Turkish Labor Agency in 15 cities located in different regions of Turkey. The total number of surveys applied was 2,162. When the number of surveys to be applied in each city was determined, the number of unemployed people living in the region represented by the city was taken into consideration, as was their distribution by gender. The two-stage least squares method was used in the analysis. As a result of the study, the social, demographic and economic determinants of unemployed people’s reservation wages were determined. An attempt has also been made to develop various policy recommendations. In addition, it is thought that this study will also help provide a better understanding of labor supply in Turkey.

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