Learning From Coworkers

Journal Article (Journal Article)

We investigate learning at the workplace. To do so, we use German administrative data that contain information on the entire workforce of a sample of establishments. We document that having more-highly-paid coworkers is strongly associated with future wage growth, particularly if those workers earn more. Motivated by this fact, we propose a dynamic theory of a competitive labor market where firms produce using teams of heterogeneous workers that learn from each other. We develop a methodology to structurally estimate knowledge flows using the full-richness of the German employer-employee matched data. The methodology builds on the observation that a competitive labor market prices coworker learning. Our quantitative approach imposes minimal restrictions on firms' production functions, can be implemented on a very short panel, and allows for potentially rich and flexible coworker learning functions. In line with our reduced-form results, learning from coworkers is significant, particularly from more knowledgeable coworkers. We show that between 4 and 9% of total worker compensation is in the form of learning and that inequality in total compensation is significantly lower than inequality in wages.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Jarosch, G; Oberfield, E; Rossi-Hansberg, E

Published Date

  • March 1, 2021

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 89 / 2

Start / End Page

  • 647 - 676

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1468-0262

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0012-9682

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.3982/ECTA16915

Citation Source

  • Scopus