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Abstract
When income effects are small, standard life-cycle models of labor supply predict a
positive response in hours worked to increases in remuneration. However, several re-
cent studies have found negative wage elasticities, casting doubt on the standard labor
supply model. This paper aims to resolve some of this controversy by examining the
responsiveness of the daily labor supply of fishermen to transitory variations in the
wage using rich data from the Florida spiny lobster fishery. The data include complete
records of all fishing trips made by Florida lobster fishermen over a twenty-year period
and include two measures of effort - hours at sea and, when relevant, number of traps
pulled - which makes it possible to look at the intensive labor supply margin in addition
to the extensive margin. Results suggest that the wage elasticity of labor supply (par-
ticipation) is positive and statistically different from zero, with a range of 1.05 to 1.31
for commercial trappers and 0.76 to 1.82 for commercial divers. Results also suggest
that the wage elasticity of hours worked is positive and statistically different from zero,
although quite small for trappers. Specifically, the elasticity ranges from 0.06 to 0.09
for trappers and 0.82 to 0.94 for divers. Although I do not specifically test a model of
reference dependent preferences, these results support the standard neoclassical model
of intertemporal substitution.