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Work Sharing and Productivity : Evidence from a Natural Experiment

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  • Paul Lanoie
  • François Raymond
  • Bruce Shearer

Abstract

This paper is the first to examine empirically how work sharing influences workers' productivity, using a unique data set from a large Canadian firm. This firm has adopted a work sharing scheme for one year, which allows us to introduce a natural experiment approach of comparing workers' productivity before and after the implementation of work sharing. We find that work sharing has led to a significant decrease in labor productivity. Cet article examine empiriquement l'impact du partage du travail sur la productivité des travailleurs d'une grande firme canadienne. L'application de la semaine réduite de travail pendant un an au sein de cette entreprise nous permet de comparer analytiquement la productivité des employés avant et après l'adoption de ce programme. Nos résultats révèlent que l'expérimentation de la semaine réduite de travail provoque une baisse significative de la productivité des travailleurs.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Lanoie & François Raymond & Bruce Shearer, 1996. "Work Sharing and Productivity : Evidence from a Natural Experiment," CIRANO Working Papers 96s-06, CIRANO.
    • Handle: RePEc:cir:cirwor:96s-06
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    File URL: https://cirano.qc.ca/files/publications/96s-06.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vivian H. Hamilton & Philip Merrigan & Éric Dufresne, 1997. "Down and out: estimating the relationship between mental health and unemployment," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 6(4), pages 397-406, July.
    2. Fortin, Bernard, 1989. "Une réduction de la semaine légale de travail augmente-t-elle la demande de travailleurs?," L'Actualité Economique, Société Canadienne de Science Economique, vol. 65(3), pages 423-442, septembre.
    3. George A. Akerlof, 1982. "Labor Contracts as Partial Gift Exchange," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 97(4), pages 543-569.
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    1. Ohanian the Onanian
      by Sandwichman in EconoSpeak on 2009-08-30 03:03:00

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