DOES DELEGATION INCREASE WORKER TRAINING?

C-Tier
Journal: Economic Inquiry
Year: 2018
Volume: 56
Issue: 2
Pages: 1089-1115

Authors (4)

Christos Bilanakos (not in RePEc) John S. Heywood (University of Wisconsin) John G. Sessions (not in RePEc) Nikolaos Theodoropoulos (University of Cyprus)

Score contribution per author:

0.251 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 0.5x C-tier

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

Abstract

We model a principal‐firm offering training to its agent‐worker under two alternative organizational structures: integration, where the principal retains authority to overrule the investment project recommended by the worker; and delegation, where the principal cannot overrule the worker's preferred investment project. We assume that training reduces the worker's effort cost of assembling information about alternative projects' payoffs and identify the conditions under which delegation increases the profit‐maximizing intensity of training. Empirical estimates from matched employer–employee data show that workplaces delegating authority do provide more worker training. This result persists in two cross sections, in panel fixed‐effect estimates and, critically, in an instrumental variable exercise that also controls for establishment fixed effects. (JEL D21, D22, D23, M53, M54)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:ecinqu:v:56:y:2018:i:2:p:1089-1115
Journal Field
General
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-29