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The Impacts of Task Repetition and Temporal Breaks in Production on Human Capital and Productivity

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  • Jason Hockenberry
  • Hsien-Ming Lien
  • Shin-Yi Chou

Abstract

The productivity of firms has been shown to decline after breaks in production. The literature suggests that one cause of this decline is the depreciation of human capital of individual workers. We examine the productivity of cardiac surgeons and hospitals to determine whether the length of or level of task repetition prior to breaks in production affects the productivity of individuals. We find decreases in surgeon productivity that are directly attributable to the length of the break between surgeries, with little evidence that this effect is mitigated by the level of task repetition prior to the break.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason Hockenberry & Hsien-Ming Lien & Shin-Yi Chou, 2008. "The Impacts of Task Repetition and Temporal Breaks in Production on Human Capital and Productivity," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 2(3), pages 303-335.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jhucap:v:2:i:3:y:2008:p:303-335
    DOI: 10.1086/593064
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jacob Mincer & Solomon Polachek, 1974. "Family Investments in Human Capital: Earnings of Women," NBER Chapters, in: Marriage, Family, Human Capital, and Fertility, pages 76-110, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Robert S. Huckman & Gary P. Pisano, 2006. "The Firm Specificity of Individual Performance: Evidence from Cardiac Surgery," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 52(4), pages 473-488, April.
    3. Yoram Ben-Porath, 1967. "The Production of Human Capital and the Life Cycle of Earnings," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 75(4), pages 352-352.
    4. C. Lanier Benkard, 2000. "Learning and Forgetting: The Dynamics of Aircraft Production," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 90(4), pages 1034-1054, September.
    5. Jacob Mincer & Haim Ofek, 1982. "Interrupted Work Careers: Depreciation and Restoration of Human Capital," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 17(1), pages 3-24.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ortego-Marti, Victor, 2017. "Loss of skill during unemployment and TFP differences across countries," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 215-235.
    2. Rachet-Jacquet, Laurie, 2022. "Do breaks from surgery improve the performance of orthopaedic surgeons?," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    3. Jackson, Paul & Ortego-Marti, Victor, 2024. "Skill loss during unemployment and the scarring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    4. Brennan Mange & David C. Phillips, 2016. "Career Interruption and Productivity: Evidence from Major League Baseball during the Vietnam War Era," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 10(2), pages 159-185.
    5. Steven Salaga & Brian M. Mills & Scott Tainsky, 2020. "Employer-Assigned Workload and Human Capital Deterioration: Evidence From the National Football League," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 21(6), pages 628-659, August.
    6. Hockenberry, Jason M. & Helmchen, Lorens A., 2014. "The nature of surgeon human capital depreciation," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 70-80.

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