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Compensation systems and earnings inequality

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  • Lily Jiang
  • Hsi-Cheng Yu

Abstract

We develop a wage-structure determination model in which a firm with incomplete information offers an optimal sequence of contracts for its heterogeneous employees. The model integrating the principal-agent framework and monitoring mechanism is characterized by endogeneity of the selection of two compensation methods: performance-pay and non-performance-pay schemes. The model is used to examine the switching of pay schemes and its inequality effect. We point out that the growth of performance-pay jobs is accompanied by a downward adjustment of the rewards for performance, which brings forth a countervailing effect on wage inequality. The simulation analysis of a case of uniform-distributed ability reveals that the net effect of the growth of performance-pay jobs on wage inequality depends on the driving force behind the switch. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Lily Jiang & Hsi-Cheng Yu, 2014. "Compensation systems and earnings inequality," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 12(1), pages 99-116, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jecinq:v:12:y:2014:i:1:p:99-116
    DOI: 10.1007/s10888-012-9239-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Performance pay; Principal-agent theory; Earnings inequality; D63; D82; J31; J33;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J33 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods

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