Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Weinberg, Bruce A.
Author-Email: weinberg.27@osu.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: Ohio State University and NBER
Author-Name: Borghans, Lex
Author-Email: lex.borghans@roa.unimaas.nl
Author-Workplace-Name: ROA, University of Maastricht
Author-Name: Weel, Bas ter
Author-Email: b.terweel@merit.unimaas.nl
Author-Workplace-Name: UNU-MERIT
Title: Interpersonal Styles and Labor Market Outcomes
Abstract: This paper develops a framework to understand the role of interpersonal 
	 interactions in the labor market including task assignment and wages. 
	 Effective interpersonal interactions involve caring, to establish 
	 cooperation, and at the same time directness, to communicate in an 
	 unambiguous way. The ability to perform these tasks varies with 
	 personality and the importance of these tasks varies across jobs. An 
	 assignment model shows that people are most productive in jobs that 
	 match their style and earn less when they have to shift to other jobs. 
	 An oversupply of one attribute relative to the other reduces wages for 
	 people who are better with the attribute in greater supply. We present 
	 evidence that youth sociability affects job assignment in adulthood. The 
	 returns to interpersonal interactions are consistent with the assignment 
	 model.  
Classification-JEL: J21, J24, J31   
Keywords: Interpersonal Interactions, Wage Level, Wage Structure
Series: UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Creation-Date: 2006
Number: 2006-045
File-URL: https://unu-merit.nl/publications/wppdf/2006/wp2006-045.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 275 Kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2006045