Clean evidence on peer effects

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Falk, A; Ichino, A
• 署名单位: University of Bonn
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF LABOR ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0734-306X
• 发表日期: 2006
• 页码: 38-57
• 关键词: social facilitation; COOPERATION; fairness; coaction; crime

摘要

We study subjects who were asked to fill letters into envelopes with a remuneration independent of output. In the pair treatment, two subjects worked at the same time in the same room, and peer effects were possible. In the single treatment, subjects worked alone, and peer effects were ruled out. We find evidence of peer effects in the pair treatment because the standard deviations of output are smaller within pairs than between pairs. Moreover, average output is higher in the pair treatment: thus, peer effects raise productivity. Finally, low-productivity workers are the most sensitive to the behavior of peers.