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Reference-dependent behaviour of paua (abalone) divers in New Zealand

Author

Listed:
  • Eggert, Håkan

    (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University)

  • Kahui, Viktoria

    (University of Otago, Dept of Economics)

Abstract

We study dynamic labour supply using data on paua (abalone) divers in New Zealand. The divers face stable, flat prices per kilogram after each catch, but experience transitory wage changes due to varying weather and water conditions, and are free to vary their daily working hours and display an intermittent working pattern. We find non-linear wage elasticities, rejecting the standard neo-classical prediction. We explore potentially distorting factors, but find little evidence. Applying Kszegi and Rabin’s (2006) theory where workers have both income and hours targets could explain our result. In particular, our divers appear to be primarily guided by the hours target. http://hdl.handle.net/2077/26589

Suggested Citation

  • Eggert, Håkan & Kahui, Viktoria, 2011. "Reference-dependent behaviour of paua (abalone) divers in New Zealand," Working Papers in Economics 513, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:gunwpe:0513
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Håkan Eggert & Viktoria Kahui, 2013. "Reference-dependent behaviour of paua (abalone) divers in New Zealand," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(12), pages 1571-1582, April.
    2. MacDonald, Daniel & Mellizo, Philip, 2017. "Reference dependent preferences and labor supply in historical perspective," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 117-124.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    labour supply; wage elasticity; income e target; reference-dependent;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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