Journal Article

Long-run trends in labor supply

Abstract: The recent \"benign\" combination of strong output growth and low inflation has led to speculation that the potential growth rate of real GDP has increased. This paper examines trends in labor supply to see whether this source of GDP growth might have accelerated. Discussions of labor supply often focus on labor force participation. But other considerations--such as the length of the workweek, the amount of time spent away from work and the demographic structure of the population--also have been important in causing trend shifts in labor supply. My analysis suggests that no significant increase in the growth rate of any of these dimensions of labor supply is likely in the near future. So if potential GDP is to accelerate, this must come from faster productivity growth.

Keywords: Labor supply; Gross domestic product;

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Part of Series: Economic Review

Publication Date: 1997

Pages: 22-33

Order Number: 3