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Multitasking and Wages

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Listed:
  • Dennis Görlich
  • Dennis Snower

Abstract

This paper sheds light on how changes in the organization of work can help to understand increasing wage inequality. We present a theoretical model in which workers with a wider span of competence (higher level of multitasking) earn a wage premium. Since abilities and opportunities to expand the span of competence are distributed unequally among workers across and within education groups, our theory helps to explain (1) rising wage inequality between groups, and (2) rising wage inequality within groups. Under certain assumptions, it also helps to explain (3) the polarization of the income distribution. Using a rich German data set covering a 20-year period from 1986 to 2006, we provide empirical support for our model.

Suggested Citation

  • Dennis Görlich & Dennis Snower, 2013. "Multitasking and Wages," CESifo Working Paper Series 4307, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_4307
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Elsayed, A.E.A. & de Grip, A. & Fouarge, D., 2014. "Job tasks, computer use, and the decreasing part-time pay penalty for women in the UK," Research Memorandum 011, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    3. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/13fti1jo4t8vjpe6ko3qrrv2nv is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Meir Russ, 2017. "The Trifurcation of the Labor Markets in the Networked, Knowledge-Driven, Global Economy," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 8(2), pages 672-703, June.
    5. Cindy M. Cunningham & Robert D. Mohr, 2019. "Using tools to distinguish general and occupation-specific skills," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 53(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Yoko Asuyama, 2022. "Doing boss‐like tasks and worker well‐being: Job enrichment revisited," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 36(2), pages 196-230, June.
    7. Tobias Stucki & Daniel Wochner, 2019. "Technological and organizational capital: Where complementarities exist," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 458-487, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    wage inequality; multitasking; tasks; organizational change;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production

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