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Compensating Differentials in Experimental Labor Markets

Author

Listed:
  • Carpenter, Jeffrey P.

    (Middlebury College)

  • Matthews, Peter Hans

    (Middlebury College)

  • Robbett, Andrea

    (Middlebury College)

Abstract
The theory of compensating differentials has proven difficult to test with observational data: the consequences of selection, unobserved firm and worker characteristics, and the broader macroeconomic environment complicate most analyses. Instead, we construct experimental, real-effort labor markets and offer an evaluation of the theory in a controlled setting. We study both the wage differentials that evolve between firms with varying degrees of disamenity and how these differentials are affected by worker mobility and therefore selection. Consistent with the theory, we find that riskier firms must pay significantly higher wages to attract workers. Further, when workers are mobile, they sort into firms according to their attitudes towards risk and, as a result, the compensating differential shrinks. Last, we are also able to mimic the biases associated with observational studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Carpenter, Jeffrey P. & Matthews, Peter Hans & Robbett, Andrea, 2015. "Compensating Differentials in Experimental Labor Markets," IZA Discussion Papers 8820, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8820
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Florian H. Schneider & Fanny Brun & Roberto A. Weber, 2020. "Sorting and Wage Premiums in Immoral Work," CESifo Working Paper Series 8456, CESifo.
    3. Bipasha Baruah, 2017. "Renewable inequity? Women's employment in clean energy in industrialized, emerging and developing economies," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(1), pages 18-29, February.
    4. Heywood, John S. & O'Mahony, Mary & Siebert, W. Stanley & Rincon-Aznar, Ana, 2018. "The Impact of Employment Protection on the Industrial Wage Structure," IZA Discussion Papers 11788, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Palma, Nuno & Reis, Jaime & Rodrigues, Lisbeth, 2023. "Historical gender discrimination does not explain comparative Western European development: evidence from Portugal, 1300-1900," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    6. Niu, Weining & Zeng, Qingduo, 2018. "Corporate financing with loss aversion and disagreement," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 80-90.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    risk aversion; real effort; experiment; sorting; compensating differential; ambiguity aversion; loss aversion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior

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