Kremer’s O-Ring production theory (QJE, 1993) describes a process in which a single mistake in any one of several tasks in firm’s production process can lead to catastrophic failure of the product’s value. This paper tests the predictions of the O-Ring theory in the context of a single market for a relatively homogeneous product: hog production. Consistent with the theory, the most skilled workers concentrate in the largest and most technologically advanced farms and are paid more. As with observed skills, workers with the greatest endowments of unobserved skills also sort themselves into the largest and most technology intensive farms.
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Paper provided by Iowa State University, Department of Economics in its series Staff General Research Papers with number
12992.
Length: Date of creation: 24 Sep 2008 Date of revision: Handle: RePEc:isu:genres:12992
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