Data and Code for: "The Value of Working Conditions in the United States and Implications for the Structure of Wages"

Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s) Nicole Maestas, Harvard University; Kathleen J. Mullen, University of Oregon; David Powell, RAND Corporation; Till von Wachter, UCLA; Jeffrey B. Wenger, RAND Corporation

Version: View help for Version V1

Name	File Type	Size	Last Modified
0_setup.do	text/plain	203 bytes	06/15/2023 07:57:AM
1_main.do	text/plain	10.1 KB	01/30/2023 12:00:PM
SP_extract.dta	application/x-stata-dta	15.2 MB	05/12/2023 08:56:AM
Value of Working Conditions README.pdf	application/pdf	279.7 KB	06/15/2023 07:53:AM
cepr_org_2015.dta	application/x-stata-dta	69 MB	06/15/2023 07:53:AM
construct_analysis_file.do	text/plain	21.1 KB	06/15/2023 08:01:AM
estimate_CD.do	text/plain	2.3 KB	01/30/2023 12:00:PM
generate_figure1_combined.do	text/plain	6 KB	01/30/2023 12:00:PM
graph_earn_hours_interacted.do	text/plain	29 KB	01/30/2023 12:00:PM
graph_hours_wage.do	text/plain	2.8 KB	01/30/2023 12:00:PM

Project Citation:

Maestas, Nicole, Mullen, Kathleen J., Powell, David, von Wachter, Till, and Wenger, Jeffrey B. Data and Code for: “The Value of Working Conditions in the United States and Implications for the Structure of Wages.” Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2023. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2023-06-19. https://doi.org/10.3886/E184378V1

Project Description

Summary: We document variation in working conditions in the United States, present estimates of how workers value these conditions, and assess the impact of working conditions on estimates of wage inequality. We conduct a series of stated-preference experiments to estimate workers’ willingness-to-pay for a broad set of working conditions, which we validate with actual job choices. We find that working conditions vary substantially, play a significant role in job choice, and are central components of the compensation received by workers. We find that accounting for differences in preferences for working conditions often exacerbates wage differentials and intensifies measures of wage inequality.

Funding Sources: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (G-2013-10-21); Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (G-2016-7226); Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (G-2017-9694); United States Social Security Administration (UM15-03); United States Social Security Administration (UM16-08)

Scope of Project

Subject Terms: Randomized Experiment; Survey Data

JEL Classification:
      C83 Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
      J31 Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
      J81 Labor Standards: Working Conditions

Geographic Coverage: United States

Time Period(s): 7/14/2015 – 10/14/2015 (AWCS Wave 1); 12/15/2015 – 2/16/2016 (Stated Preference Experiments); 7/17/2018 – 9/17/2018 (AWCS 2018 Follow-Up)

Collection Date(s): 7/14/2015 – 10/14/2015 (AWCS Wave 1); 12/15/2015 – 2/16/2016 (Stated Preference Experiments); 7/17/2018 – 9/17/2018 (AWCS 2018 Follow-Up)

Universe: American workers

Data Type(s): experimental data; survey data

Methodology

Response Rate: 60.7%

Sampling: Probability sampling

Data Source: RAND American Life Panel

Collection Mode(s): web-based survey

Weights: Weights generated to match demographics of Current Population Survey

Unit(s) of Observation: Individuals

Geographic Unit: United States

Related Publications

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Published Versions

V1 [2023-06-19]

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