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Bosses matter: The effects of managers on workers’ performance

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  • Kathryn L. Shaw

    (Stanford University and National Bureau of Economic Research, USA, and IZA, Germany)

Abstract

A good boss can have a substantial positive effect on the productivity of a typical worker. While much has been written about the peer effects of working with good peers, the effects of working with good bosses appear much more substantial. A good boss can enhance the performance of their employees and can lower the quit rate. This may also be relevant in situations where it is challenging to employ incentive pay structures, such as when quality is difficult to observe. As such, firms should invest sufficiently in the hiring of good bosses with skills that are appropriate to their role.

Suggested Citation

  • Kathryn L. Shaw, 2019. "Bosses matter: The effects of managers on workers’ performance," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 456-456, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:2019:n:456
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nicholas Bloom & John Van Reenen, 2007. "Measuring and Explaining Management Practices Across Firms and Countries," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 122(4), pages 1351-1408.
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    9. Goodall, Amanda H. & Kahn, Lawrence M. & Oswald, Andrew J., 2011. "Why do leaders matter? A study of expert knowledge in a superstar setting," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 77(3), pages 265-284, March.
    10. Owan, Hideo & 都留, 康 & Tsuru, Tsuyoshi & Uehara, Katsuhito, 2012. "Seller-Buyer Ethnic Matches: The Case Of Car Transactions At Two North American Auto Dealerships," Hitotsubashi Journal of Economics, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 53(2), pages 217-236, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Coad, Alex & Kaiser, Ulrich & Kuhn, Johan, 2021. "Spin doctors vs the spawn of capitalism: Who founds university and corporate startups?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(10).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    managers; bosses; peers; productivity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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