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Work Environment and Individual Background: Explaining Regional Shirking Differentials in a Large Italian Firm

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  • Andrea Ichino
  • Giovanni Maggi

Abstract

The prevalence of shirking within a large Italian bank appears to be characterized by significant regional differentials. In particular, absenteeism and misconduct episodes are substantially more prevalent in the south. We consider a number of potential explanations for this fact: different individual backgrounds; group-interaction effects; sorting of workers across regions; differences in local attributes; different hiring policies and discrimination against southern workers. Our analysis suggests that individual backgrounds, group-interaction effects and sorting effects contribute to explain the north-south shirking differential. None of the other explanations appears to be of first-order importance.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Ichino & Giovanni Maggi, 1999. "Work Environment and Individual Background: Explaining Regional Shirking Differentials in a Large Italian Firm," NBER Working Papers 7415, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:7415
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    JEL classification:

    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor
    • K4 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior

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