- 02 Aug 2021
- Research & Ideas
What If Closing the Wage Gap Means Everyone Earns Less?
Companies are under pressure to share more data about employee salaries, but research by Zoe Cullen reveals how pay transparency doesn't always help workers. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 17 Sep 2020
- Research & Ideas
Many Small-Business Employees May Be Close to Losing Health Insurance
Small-business owners have delayed rent payments and other bills to protect health benefits for employees. Now, financial pressure is mounting, according to research by Leemore Dafny, Yin Wei Soon, Zoë Cullen, and Christopher Stanton. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 08 Sep 2020
- Sharpening Your Skills
Capitalism Works Better When I Can See What You're Doing
Lower prices. More innovation. Better government. Transparency fuels the basic principles of competitive business and open government. Well, most of the time. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 24 Aug 2020
- Research & Ideas
How Much Will Remote Work Continue After the Pandemic?
A new survey suggests that at least 16 percent of employees will remain at-home workers long after COVID-19 recedes, report researchers Christopher Stanton, Zoe Cullen, and Michael Luca. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 29 Jul 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
What Jobs Are Being Done at Home During the COVID-19 Crisis? Evidence from Firm-Level Surveys
At least 16 percent of American workers will switch from office-based settings to working at home at least two days per week after COVID-19 subsides. This has significant implications for companies, employees, and policymakers alike.
- 21 Jul 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Business Reopening Decisions and Demand Forecasts During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Findings from a nationwide survey underscore the importance of demand projections and interdependencies among businesses for owners’ reopening decisions. Businesses expect the demand for their services will be greatly depressed for many months to come.
- 18 Apr 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
How Are Small Businesses Adjusting to COVID-19? Early Evidence From a Survey
This survey of 5,819 small businesses in the United States shows that the pandemic has already caused massive dislocation among small businesses. Many businesses think they will not be able to survive if the crisis persists for the coming months. The immediacy of new funding will likely impact medium-term outcomes.
- 13 Apr 2020
- Research & Ideas
Small Businesses Are Worse Off Than We Thought
A survey of small-business owners shows that lack of liquidity and skepticism of government programs are compounding COVID crisis recovery efforts. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 04 Mar 2020
- Research & Ideas
How Schmoozing with the Boss Helps Men Get Promoted
Male employees who bond with their male managers move up the ranks of their companies faster, reinforcing the gender pay gap, according to research by Zoe B. Cullen. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 07 Feb 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
The Old Boys' Club: Schmoozing and the Gender Gap
Over a four-year period, male employees assigned a male manager were promoted at a faster rate than their female counterparts, with no observable difference in performance. Women, in turn, were promoted at the same rate whether assigned to a male manager or female manager. Male employees benefited from the higher rates of social interactions with their male managers.
- 05 Dec 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
The Salary Taboo: Privacy Norms and the Diffusion of Information
Barriers to the diffusion of salary information have implications for a wide range of labor market phenomena. This study of employees of a real organization shows that individuals significantly misinterpret their peers’ salaries, partly due to pervasive preferences for concealing own salary, and a potentially strategic decision of high earners to withhold their personal information.
- 08 Oct 2018
- Research & Ideas
Knowing What Your Boss Earns Can Make You Work Harder
Learning what your co-worker earns can make you less productive, but knowing your manager's paycheck can motivate you to work harder. Research by Zoë Cullen. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 29 Aug 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
How Much Does Your Boss Make? The Effects of Salary Comparisons
This study of more than 2,000 employees at a multibillion dollar firm explores how perceptions about peers’ and managers’ salaries affect employee behaviors and preferences for equity. Employees exhibit a high tolerance for inequality when job titles differ, which may explain why incentives are granted through promotions, and gender pay differences are most pronounced across positions.
Companies Can Expand Their Talent Pool by Giving Ex-Convicts a Second Chance
People with criminal convictions often have trouble finding work and face double-digit unemployment rates. Yet employers would be more willing to hire them under certain conditions, says research by Zoë Cullen. Open for comment; 0 Comments.