Culture and the Labour Market

Abstract

Culture and the labour market: introduction culture and economic behaviour in the labour market the constitutive effects of culture the regulatory effects of culture social norms and instrumental reason summary and conclusion. Approaches to the analysis of cultural effects in the labour market: introduction theoretical approaches to the analysis of culture, the origins of social norms, the relationship between social norms and individual economic behaviour, norm guided behaviour and actual market outcomes - the role of market and political processes empirical approaches to the analysis of cultural effects summary and conclusion. A model of the relationship between norms of equity, reference level norms and skill-based wage differentials: introduction the stability of skill-based wage differentials efficiency wage models of the role of social norms in wage determination theoretical framework fairness as equity versus reference level norms the relationship between norms, effort and skill-based wage differentials the determination of wage relativities discussion of the model's predictions summary and conclusion. Community attitudes to skill-based wage differentials: introduction data and approach, measurement of attitudes to skill differentials legitimate skill-based wage differences the determinants of attitudes towards skill-based wage differentials international and inter-temporal differences in legitimate skill-based differentials summary and conclusion. Norms of equality and the wage structure in fourteen countries: introduction background - international differences in earnings inequality data and approach, measurement of attitudes to inequality, inequality scales, issues associated with the measurement of attitudes to inequality international differences in attitudes to inequality international differences in attitudes to inequality - a more detailed analysis, legitimate and perceived levels of inequality, the role of demographic, political, economic and class factors in the determination of attitudes to inequality, attitudes to inequality among the elite and ordinary workers, international comparison of attitudes to inequality summary and conclusion. Norms of equality in a changing world - evidence from six countries: introduction background - changes in earnings inequality data and approach overview of attitudes to inequality changes in attitudes to inequality - a more detailed analysis, legitimate and perceived levels of inequality, the changing role of demographic, political, economic and class factors in the determination of attitudes to inequality, attitudes to inequality among the elite and ordinary workers, international comparison of changes in attitudes in inequality summary and conclusion. Norms of need and minimum wages: introduction theoretical background, testing for the existence of norms of need data on community attitudes to minimum wage controls. (part contents)