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Why Are Wage Profiles so Flat During the First Year on a Job?

Author
Bishop, John H.; Kang, Suk
Abstract
This paper presents evidence that productivity net of general training costs rise 4 or 5 times more rapidly than wage rates during the first 2 years on a job. This occurs for three reasons. First, sorting, high job search costs and the reputational damages that result from premature separations cause workers to prefer front loaded compensation packages which reduce the likelihood of involuntary terminations. Second, due to progressive income taxation and poor access to credit, workers discount the future more heavily than employers. Front-loading compensation is, therefore, a relatively cheap way for employers to attract top quality new hires. Finally, the minimum wage and union contracts also tend to force flat wage profiles.
Date Issued
1989-10-01Subject
CAHRS; ILR; center; human resource; job; worker; advanced; labor market; satisfaction; employee; work; manage; wage profile; wage; training; on the job; productivity; tenure; union; contract. flat wage profile
Type
preprint