This study proposes and implements a specification test for the
hypothesis that unemployment represents intertemporal labour supply
behavior. The test allows for uncertainty and endogenous unemployment.
Given standard specifications of the intertemporal labour supply model, I
find strong evidence against this interpretation of unemployment. These
results indicate the need to turn to either 1) alternative models where
unemployed workers are off a supply function or ii) more complex models
of intertemporal substitution.