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Do social interactions in the workplace lead to productivity spillover among co-workers?

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  • Thomas Cornelissen

    (University of York, UK)

Abstract

Should one expect a worker’s productivity, and thus wage, to depend on the productivity of his/her co-workers in the same workplace, even if the workers carry out completely independent tasks and do not engage in team work? This may well be the case because social interaction among co-workers can lead to productivity spillover through knowledge spillover or peer pressure. The available empirical evidence suggests that, due to such peer effects, co-worker productivity positively affects a worker’s own productivity and wage, particularly in lower-skilled occupations.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Cornelissen, 2016. "Do social interactions in the workplace lead to productivity spillover among co-workers?," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 314-314, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:y:2016:n:314
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Cornelissen & Christian Dustmann & Uta Schönberg, 2017. "Peer Effects in the Workplace," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(2), pages 425-456, February.
    2. Bertoni, Marco & Nistico, Roberto, 2019. "Ordinal Rank and Peer Composition: Two Sides of the Same Coin?," IZA Discussion Papers 12789, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Bertoni, Marco & Nisticò, Roberto, 2023. "Ordinal rank and the structure of ability peer effects," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    4. Mittal Ella & Rani Tamanna, 2022. "Do Social Interactions Really Moderate Job Productivity in Coworking Spaces?," Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 10(1), pages 145-160, September.
    5. Messina, Julián & Sanz-de-Galdeano, Anna & Terskaya, Anastasia, 2024. "Birds of a Feather Earn Together. Gender and Peer Effects at the Workplace," IZA Discussion Papers 16721, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    peer effects; productivity; wages; peer pressure; social pressure; knowledge spillover;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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