Working Paper: NBER ID: w13480
Authors: Edward P. Lazear; Paul Oyer
Abstract: In this review of the personnel economics literature, we introduce key topics of personnel economics, focus on some relatively new findings that have emerged since prior reviews of some or all of the personnel economics literature, and suggest open questions in personnel economics where future research can make valuable contributions to the literature. We explore five aspects of the employment relationship - incentives, matching firms with workers, compensation, skill development, and the organization of work - reviewing the main theories, empirical tests of those theories, and the open questions in each area.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: J3; J41; M5
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| employee incentives (M52) | productivity (O49) |
| piece-rate compensation systems (J33) | productivity (O49) |
| incentives (M52) | employee effort (M52) |
| stronger incentives (J33) | greater effort (D29) |
| high-risk environments (J28) | weaken incentives-effort relationship (D29) |
| subjective performance measures (L25) | motivate workers (M54) |
| trust between employees and employers (J54) | effectiveness of subjective performance measures (L25) |