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The Causes of Peer Effects in Production: Evidence from a Series of Field Experiments

Author

Listed:
  • Horton, John J.

    (New York University)

  • Zeckhauser, Richard J.

    (Harvard University)

Abstract
Workers respond to the output choices of their peers. What explains this well documented phenomenon of peer effects? Do workers value equity, fear punishment from equity-minded peers, or does output from peers teach them about employers' expectations? We test these alternative explanations in a series of field experiments. We find clear evidence of peer effects, as have others. Workers raise their own output when exposed to high-output peers. They also punish low-output peers, even when that low output has no effect on them. They may be embracing and enforcing the employer's expectations. (Exposure to employer-provided work samples influences output much the same as exposure to peer-provided work.) However, even when employer expectations are clearly stated, workers increase output beyond those expectations when exposed to workers producing above expectations. Overall, the evidence is strongly consistent with the notion that peer effects are mediated by workers' sense of fairness related to relative effort.

Suggested Citation

  • Horton, John J. & Zeckhauser, Richard J., 2016. "The Causes of Peer Effects in Production: Evidence from a Series of Field Experiments," Working Paper Series 16-027, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:harjfk:16-027
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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