Making Do with Less: Working Harder during Recessions

Edward Lazear, Kathryn L. Shaw and Christopher Stanton

Journal of Labor Economics, 2016, vol. 34, issue S1, S333 - S360

Abstract: Why did productivity rise during recent recessions? One possibility is that average worker quality increased. A second is that each incumbent worker produced more. The second effect is termed "making do with less." Using data from 2006 to 2010 on individual worker productivity from a large firm, these effects can be measured and separated. For this firm, most of the gain in productivity during the recession was a result of increased effort. Additionally, the increase in effort is correlated with the increase in the local unemployment rate, presumably reflecting the costs of losing a job.

Date: 2016
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Related works:
Working Paper: Making Do With Less: Working Harder During Recessions (2014)
Working Paper: Making do with less: working harder during recessions (2014)
Working Paper: Making do with less: working harder during recessions (2014)
Chapter: Making Do With Less: Working Harder during Recessions (2013)
Working Paper: Making Do With Less: Working Harder During Recessions (2013)
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