Testing the Theory of Multitasking: Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment in Chinese Factories

Fuhai Hong, Tanjim Hossain (), John List and Migiwa Tanaka

No 19660, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: A well-recognized problem in the multitasking literature is that workers might substantially reduce their effort on tasks that produce unobservable outputs as they seek the salient rewards to observable outputs. Since the theory related to multitasking is decades ahead of the empirical evidence, the economic costs of standard incentive schemes under multitasking contexts remain largely unknown. This study provides empirical insights quantifying such effects using a field experiment in Chinese factories. Using more than 2200 data points across 126 workers, we find sharp evidence that workers do trade off the incented output (quantity) at the expense of the non-incented one (quality) as a result of a piece rate bonus scheme. Consistent with our theoretical model, treatment effects are much stronger for workers whose base salary structure is a flat wage compared to those under a piece rate base salary. While the incentives result in a large increase in quantity and a sharp decrease in quality for workers under a flat base salary, they result only in a small increase in quantity without affecting quality for workers under a piece rate base salary.

JEL-codes: C9 C90 C93 D01 D22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp and nep-hrm
Note: LS
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (22)

Published as Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization Volume 118, October 2015, Pages 372–382 Economic Experiments in Developing Countries Cover image Framing manipulations in contests: A natural field experiment Fuhai Honga, Tanjim Hossainb, , , John A. Listc
Published as Fuhai Hong & Tanjim Hossain & John A. List & Migiwa Tanaka, 2018. "Testing The Theory Of Multitasking: Evidence From A Natural Field Experiment In Chinese Factories," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 59(2), pages 511-536, May.

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Related works:
Journal Article: TESTING THE THEORY OF MULTITASKING: EVIDENCE FROM A NATURAL FIELD EXPERIMENT IN CHINESE FACTORIES (2018)
Working Paper: Testing the Theory of Multitasking: Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment in Chinese Factories (2017)
Working Paper: Testing the Theory of Multitasking: Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment in Chinese Factories (2013)
Working Paper: Testing the Theory of Multitasking: Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment in Chinese Factories (2013)
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