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Workers’ participation in wage setting: A gift-exchange experiment

Author

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  • Franke, Jörg
  • Gurtoviy, Ruslan
  • Mertins, Vanessa
Abstract
This study analyzes the consequences of workers’ participation in the wage setting process on effort exertion. The experimental design is based on a modified gift-exchange game with firms specifying contract alternatives and workers deciding about the finally implemented alternative. The experimental data reveals that workers with participation rights are more sensitive to differences in wage offers: Low wage offers trigger negative reciprocity which dominates the positive incentive effects from high wage offers. On average, participation in the wage setting process leads to a decline in effort exertion.

Suggested Citation

  • Franke, Jörg & Gurtoviy, Ruslan & Mertins, Vanessa, 2016. "Workers’ participation in wage setting: A gift-exchange experiment," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 151-162.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:56:y:2016:i:c:p:151-162
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2016.07.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sabrina Jeworrek & Vanessa Mertins, 2019. "Wage delegation in the field," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 656-669, November.
    2. José J. Domínguez & Giulio Ecchia & Natalia Montinari & Raimondello Orsini, 2023. "When Workplace Democracy Backfires. Lab Evidence on Honesty and Cooperation," ThE Papers 23/02, Department of Economic Theory and Economic History of the University of Granada..
    3. Lara Ezquerra & Joaquin Gomez-Minambres & Natalia Jiminez & Praveen Kujal, 2021. "Making it public: The effect of (private and public) wage proposals on efficiency and income distribution," Working Papers 21-12, Chapman University, Economic Science Institute.
    4. Christian Brück & Thorsten Knauer & Harald Meier & Anja Schwering, 2021. "Self-set salaries and creativity," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 91(1), pages 91-121, February.
    5. Vanessa Mertins & Christian Walter, 2021. "In absence of money: a field experiment on volunteer work motivation," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 24(3), pages 952-984, September.
    6. Christian Koch, 2021. "Can reference points explain wage rigidity? Experimental evidence," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 55(1), pages 1-17, December.
    7. Kleine, Marco & Langenbach, Pascal & Zhurakhovska, Lilia, 2017. "How voice shapes reactions to impartial decision-makers: An experiment on participation procedures," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 241-253.
    8. Ezquerra, Lara & Gómez-Miñambres, Joaquín & Jimenez, Natalia & Kujal, Praveen, 2023. "The effect of wage proposals on efficiency and income distribution," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 469-493.
    9. van den Akker, Olmo R. & van Assen, Marcel A.L.M. & van Vugt, Mark & Wicherts, Jelte M., 2020. "Sex differences in trust and trustworthiness: A meta-analysis of the trust game and the gift-exchange game," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Participation; Labor market; Gift-exchange game; Personnel economics; Reciprocity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • J33 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production
    • M52 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Compensation and Compensation Methods and Their Effects
    • M55 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Labor Contracting Devices

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