Labor Supply and the Value of Non-Work Time

Last registered on September 04, 2017
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Labor Supply and the Value of Non-Work Time
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0002404
Initial registration date
September 01, 2017

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
September 04, 2017, 8:52 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
United States of America
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Amanda Pallais
Affiliation
Harvard University
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Alexandre Mas
PI Affiliation
Princeton University
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Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2017-04-14
End date
2017-08-31
Keywords
Labor
Additional Keywords
labor supply, value of non-work time
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Abstract
We use a field experiment to estimate the marginal value of non-work time (MVT). During the application process to staff a national call center and data entry positions we randomly offer applicants alternative hour and wage packages. Applicant choices over these packages yield estimates for the MVT for this population of jobseekers as a function of hours worked. They also allow us to estimate a labor supply function.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Mas, Alexandre and Amanda Pallais. 2017. "Labor Supply and the Value of Non-Work Time." AEA RCT Registry. September 04. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.2404-1.0
Former Citation
Mas, Alexandre and Amanda Pallais. 2017. "Labor Supply and the Value of Non-Work Time." AEA RCT Registry. September 04. https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/2404/history/21186
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2017-04-14
Intervention End Date
2017-06-12

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Applicants' choice over jobs
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Applicants to data entry and phone survey positions are asked which of two positions they would prefer. One is H hours per week at X dollars per hour, and one is H+5 hours per week at Y dollars per hour, where H varies from 5 to 35 in 5-hour increments. Both jobs are explicitly one-month, work-from-home positions. Both the choice of hours and the wages are randomized. To determine individuals’ value of time above 40 hours per week, we ask randomly-selected individuals to choose between either (1) a 40 and 45 hour per week job or (2) a 45 and 50 hour job. In both cases, we randomize the wage paid for overtime hours.

In addition to the experiment, we add a module to the nationally-representative Understanding America Study that asks individuals hypothetical questions about their preference between two jobs with different hours per week and wages.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization done automatically by a computer on a remote surver at the time of application
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
Approximately 3,000 applicants
Sample size: planned number of observations
Approximately 3,000 applicants
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Approximately 300 applicants per hours choice
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Study has received IRB approval. Details not available.
IRB Approval Date
Details not available
IRB Approval Number
Details not available
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials