Cost of Incentivizing

Researcher:	Sittenthaler, Hanna; Kaiser, Theresa; Mohnen Alwine
Outline:	To date, research has primarily focused on incentive effectiveness, i.e. the impact of incentives on performance, as a measure to decide which incentive scheme is superior. This project shifts the focus to the cost of incentivizing by integrating the cost side into experimental studies.

Stepping-stones and vicious cycles in temporary agency work

Researchers:

Toporova, Nevena; Hopp, Christian; Minten, Axel (RWTH Aachen University)

Outline:

Despite the growing importance of temporary work agencies, the benefits they bring to temporary agency employees (TAEs) are still disputed, and empirical findings are, by and large, mixed. Using a unique dataset comprising almost 12,000 TAEs on their first and second temporary work assignments, this work aims at disentangling the consequences of temporary agency work on the level of the individual TAE in Germany. We find that temporary agency work assignments act as learning devices for employers about the underlying ability of TAEs.

The motivation of temporary agency workers—An empirical analysis on the basis of appraisals compiled by hiring companies

Researchers:	Toporova, Nevena; Grund, Christian; Minten, Axel (RWTH Aachen University)
Outline:	We are investigating the relationship between individual and job-related characteristics and the motivation of temporary agency workers. To do so, we are using a unique dataset from one of Germany’s largest temporary work agencies. For 3,000 temporary agency workers, a subjective motivation appraisal is provided by the respective direct manager within the hiring company.

The Impact of Monetary, Non-Monetary & Mixed Incentives on Performance

Researchers:	Sittenthaler, Hanna; Mohnen, Alwine;
Outline:	This project aims to analyze the impact of monetary, non-monetary and the interaction of monetary and non-monetary incentives on performance in a real effort experiment. Furthermore our study sheds light on gender differences.

The Impact of Variable Payment Cuts on Performance and Satisfaction

Researchers:	Sittenthaler, Hanna; Mohnen, Alwine; Herbst, Virginia;
Outline:	We conducted a real effort experiment to analyze the impact of different levels of variable payment cuts on performance and satisfaction. In contrast to standard economic assumptions our results show that a piece rate cut does not necessarily have a negative impact on performance, but the level of the piece rate cut matters.