The Ties That Bind Us: Social Networks and Productivity in the Factory

Amrita Dhillon (), Farzana Afridi and Swati Sharma

No 14687, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We use high frequency worker level productivity data from garment manufacturing units in India to study the effects of caste-based social networks on individual and group productivity when workers are complements in the production function but wages are paid at the individual level. Using exogenous variation in production line composition for almost 35,000 worker-days, we find that a 1 percentage point increase in the share of own caste workers in the line increases daily individual productivity by about 10 percentage points. The lowest performing worker increases her effort by more than 15 percentage points when the production line has a more homogeneous caste composition. Production externalities that impose financial costs due to worker's poor performance on co-workers within her social network can explain our findings. Our results suggest that even in the absence of explicit group-based financial incentives, social networks can be leveraged to improve both worker and group productivity.

Keywords: Caste; Social Networks; Labor productivity; Assembly lines; India (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J15 J24 Y40 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eff, nep-hrm, nep-soc and nep-tid
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The ties that bind us: Social networks and productivity in the factory (2024)
Working Paper: The Ties That Bind Us: Social Networks and Productivity in the Factory (2020)
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