Ownership, Agency, and Wages: An Examination of Franchising in the Fast Food Industry

S-Tier
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Economics
Year: 1991
Volume: 106
Issue: 1
Pages: 75-101

Authors (1)

Score contribution per author:

8.043 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

This paper estimates the difference in compensation between company-owned and franchisee-owned fast food restaurants. The contrast is of interest because contractual arrangements give managers of company-owned outlets less of an incentive to monitor and supervise employees. Estimates based on two data sets suggest that employee compensation is slightly greater at company-owned outlets than at franchisee-owned outlets. The earnings gap is 9 percent for assistant and shift managers and 2 percent for full-time crew workers. Furthermore, the tenure-earnings profile is steeper at company-owned restaurants. These findings suggest that monitoring difficulties influence the timing and generosity of compensation.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:qjecon:v:106:y:1991:i:1:p:75-101.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25