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

Nicole Maestas, Kathleen Mullen, David Powell, Till von Wachter and Jeffrey B. Wenger

American Economic Review, 2023, vol. 113, issue 7, 2007-47

Abstract: 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 conditions 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 conditions often exacerbates wage differentials and intensifies measures of wage inequality.

JEL-codes: J22 J28 J31 J81 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (31)

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Working Paper: The Value of Working Conditions in the United States and Implications for the Structure of Wages (2018)
Working Paper: The Value of Working Conditions in the United States and Implications for the Structure of Wages (2018)
Working Paper: The Value of Working Conditions in the United States and Implications for the Structure of Wages (2018)
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DOI: 10.1257/aer.20190846

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