We find that the empirical results reported in Chang (Journal of Applied Econometrics 2011; 26(5): 854-871) are contingent on the specification of the model. The use of Heckman's initial conditions combined with observed and not latent lagged dependent variables leads to a counter-intuitive estimation of the true state dependence. The use of Wooldridge's initial conditions together with the observed lagged dependent variable and a proper modelling of censoring provides a much more natural estimate of the true state dependence parameters together with a clearer interpretation of the decision to participate in the labour market in the two-tiered model.