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Peers at work: from the field to the lab
[working paper]
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Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung gGmbH
Abstract In an in influential study, Mas and Moretti (2009) found that worker effort is positively related to the productivity of workers who see him, but not workers who do not see him. They interpret this as evidence that social pressure can reduce free riding. In this paper we report an attempt to reprodu... view more
In an in influential study, Mas and Moretti (2009) found that worker effort is positively related to the productivity of workers who see him, but not workers who do not see him. They interpret this as evidence that social pressure can reduce free riding. In this paper we report an attempt to reproduce the findings of Mas and Moretti in a lab experiment. Lab experiments have the advantage of being able to shut down alternative channels through which workers can influence the productivity of colleagues whom they observe. Although the subjects in our experiment are aware of the productivity of others and although there is sufficient scope for subjects to vary their productivity, we find no evidence of the type of peer effects reported by Mas and Moretti. This suggests that their findings are less generalizable than has been assumed. (author's abstract)... view less
Keywords
productivity; behavior; labor; laboratory experiment; employee
Classification
Social Psychology
Working Conditions
Document language
English
Publication Year
2014
City
Berlin
Page/Pages
28 p.
Series
Discussion Papers / Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung, Forschungsschwerpunkt Markt und Entscheidung, Abteilung Verhalten auf Märkten, SP II 2014-204
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/10419/96937
Status
Published Version; reviewed
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications