Is Bigger Still Better? The Decline of the Wage Premium at Large Firms

William E. Even and David Macpherson

Southern Economic Journal, 2012, vol. 78, issue 4, 1181-1201

Abstract: This study shows that the wage premium paid by large firms fell over the past 20 years and that this decline in the size premium is most pronounced among the least educated workers. Empirical evidence supports several explanations for the shrinking size premium. First, there has been a convergence in the returns to worker characteristics at large and small firms over time. Second, small and large firms are hiring more workers with similar characteristics. Particularly important are the declining share of workers at large manufacturing firms and the rising share of workers at large retail firms. Also, the greater decline of unionism at large firms has contributed significantly to the decline in the size premium.

Date: 2012
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https://doi.org/10.4284/0038-4038-78.4.1181

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Working Paper: Is Bigger Still Better? The Decline of the Wage Premium at Large Firms (2009)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:soecon:v:78:y:2012:i:4:p:1181-1201

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