Insider Econometrics: Modeling Management Practices and Productivity

摘要: Which management practices raise the productivity of workers within firms and by how much? Why does this occur, what types benefit most from adopting new practices? While line research tests microeconomic models, results are interest to policymakers who wish model economic growth, managers seek evidence support or refute their views. Labor Management Innovations Ongoing Over time, have changed ways they manage people. Firms using more incentive pay rewards, teamwork, training, careful hiring, flexible job assignment, information sharing, greater delegation authority lower levels firm. Figure 1 shows increased use a longitudinal sample in U.S. U.K. valve-making industry. Among these small manufacturing firms, now do problem-solving teams, highly trained, performance-based replaces hourly pay. These trends seem prevail across economy. (1) According Lemieux, MacLeod, Parent (2008), 1976 1998 percent were classified as "working performance jobs" grew 33 40 percent. (2) [FIGURE OMITTED] there is only limited time-series data that measure innovations into current decade, it appears significant people ongoing. Case study examples provide extensive impressive continue invest human resource (HR) practices, many combined with technology innovations. (3) Recent International Research on Practices last six years, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has sponsored an NBER project delves deeply inside examine adoption impact innovative both European firms. Three books summarize arc result project. (4) In Freeman Shaw (2009), authors seven studies multinationals conclude even when multinational make similar products plants countries, any differences capital quality will different plants. There country-specific rules regulations labor but modest effects workers' relative other sources differences. Across all "new" HR being adopted widely Also, put such pay, respond comparable countries. Lazear eleven teams researchers Europe United States distributions wages revealing international similarities structure wages. Insider Econometrics Used Model Impact Performance Researchers increasingly "insider econometrics"--that is, combining insights "insiders" econometric modeling data--to estimate productivity, why some adopt while others not. The micro describe people, various units (such stores); increasingly, available economists, not lends itself insider analysis. What should aim for conducting studies? One set key features described Ichniowski (2009). (5) particular, researcher must find treatment--that practice either firm very …