报告论文

Do Financial Concerns Make Workers Less Productive?

主讲人

张肆祐 易嘉璐（中经管2022级本科生）

论文摘要

We test whether increasing cash-on-hand raises the productivity of poor workers. Our motivation is psychological. Concerns about money can create mental burdens such as worry, stress, or sadness. These in turn could interfere with the ability to work effectively. We empirically test for this possibility using a field experiment with piece-rate manufacturing workers in India. We randomize the timing of income receipt, so that on a given day some workers have more cash-on-hand than others. This manipulation holds constant wages and piece rates, as well as human and physical capital. On cash-rich days, average productivity increases by 0.11 standard deviations (6.2%); this effect is concentrated among relatively poorer workers. Mistakes also decline on these days --- an effect that is again concentrated among poorer workers. Having more cash-on-hand thus enables workers to work faster while making fewer errors, suggesting improved cognition.

We argue that mechanisms such as gift exchange, trust, and nutrition cannot account for our findings. Instead, our results suggest a range of psychological mechanisms wherein alleviating financial concerns allows workers to be more attentive and productive at work.

时间

2024年4月24日 12:45-14:15

地点

学术会堂712

主持人/点评老师

戴田甜 姜神怡 明洋 尹鹏辉

活动对象

创新发展学院本科生、研究生

人数规模

30人

主办单位

创新发展学院中国经济与管理研究院