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Mellowing with tenure? Socialization increases prosocial behavior in public organizations

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  • Sheheryar Banuri

    (University of East Anglia)

  • Philip Keefer

    (Inter-American Development Bank)

Abstract

Recent research suggests that prosocial organizations are likely to have more prosocial employees, and that this match plays a significant role in organization contracting practices and productivity -- for example, in government. Evidence suggests that selection plays a role: prosocial employees are more likely to join prosocial organizations. In this paper, we ask whether prosocial behavior increases with tenure in prosocial organizations. Using a unique sample of nearly 300 mid-career Indonesian public officials, we find that subjects with longer tenure in the public sector exhibit greater prosocial behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Sheheryar Banuri & Philip Keefer, 2016. "Mellowing with tenure? Socialization increases prosocial behavior in public organizations," University of East Anglia School of Economics Working Paper Series 2016-04, School of Economics, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK..
    • Handle: RePEc:uea:ueaeco:2016_04
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