Bandiera, Oriana, Barankay, Iwan and Rasul, Imran (2004) Relative and absolute incentives: evidence on worker productivity. 4431. Centre for Economic Policy Research, London, UK.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
We use personnel data to compare worker productivity under a relative incentive scheme, where worker pay is negatively related to the average productivity of co-workers, with productivity under piece rates – where pay is based on individual productivity alone. We find that for the average worker, productivity is at least 50% higher under piece rates. We show this is because workers partially internalize the negative externality they impose on others under the relative incentive scheme and do so to a greater extent when they work alongside their close friends. The results illustrate the importance of understanding how workers behave in the presence of externalities when designing incentive schemes.
Actions (login required)
 |
Record administration - authorised staff only |
