Did Henry Ford Pay Efficiency Wages?

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Labor Economics
Year: 1987
Volume: 5
Issue: 4
Pages: S57-86

Authors (2)

Raff, Daniel M G (not in RePEc) Summers, Lawrence H (Harvard University)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

The authors examine Henry Ford's introduction of the five-dollar day in 1914 in an effort to evaluate the relevance of efficiency-wag e theories of wage and employment determination. They conclude that t he Ford experience strongly supports the relevance of these theories. Ford's decision to increase wages dramatically is most plausibly the consequence of labor problems of the kind efficiency-wage theorists stress. The structure of the five-dollar day program is consistent wi th the predictions of efficiency-wage theories. There is vivid eviden ce that the introduction of the five-dollar day resulted in substanti al queues for Ford jobs. Significant increases in Ford productivity a nd profits accompanied the new regime. Copyright 1987 by University of Chicago Press.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jlabec:v:5:y:1987:i:4:p:s57-86
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29