The Value of Working Conditions in the United States and Implications for the Structure of Wages

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Maestas, Nicole; Mullen, Kathleen J.; Powell, David; von Wachter, Till; Wenger, Jeffrey B.
• 署名单位: Harvard University; University of Oregon; RAND Corporation; University of California System; University of California Los Angeles
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.20190846
• 发表日期: 2023
• 页码: 2007-2047
• 关键词: willingness-to-pay; gender-differences; statistical life; efficiency wages; MEANINGFUL WORK; differentials; WORKPLACE; satisfaction; preferences; incentives

摘要

We document variation in working conditions in the United States, present estimates of how workers value these conditions, and assess the impact of working conditions on estimates of wage inequality. We conduct a series of stated-preference experiments to estimate workers' willingness to pay for a broad set of working conditions, which we validate with actual job choices. We find that working con-ditions vary substantially, play a significant role in job choice, and are central components of the compensation received by workers. We find that accounting for differences in preferences for working con-ditions often exacerbates wage differentials and intensifies measures of wage inequality. (JEL J22, J28, J31, J81)