Wage Expectations and Selection Neglect

Last registered on August 20, 2019
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Wage Expectations and Selection Neglect
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0004580
Initial registration date
August 15, 2019

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
August 20, 2019, 10:59 AM EDT

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

Locations

Country
Germany
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Annekatrin Schrenker
Affiliation
DIW Berlin
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2019-09-01
End date
2021-03-01
Keywords
Labor
Additional Keywords
expectations, wage gaps
JEL code(s)
D840, J310
Secondary IDs
Abstract
This study uses a survey experiment to examine if wage expectations are affected by selection neglect bias. The intervention consists of two information treatments about average wage gaps. It additionally features a control group that reports wage expectations in the absence of any treatment. Randomization is conducted at the individual level and implemented via computerized assignment as part of a CAPI survey. The target sample size is N=970, with approx. 320 individuals in each of the two treatment groups and the control group. The experiment is embedded in the GSOEP Innovation Survey and is implemented by Kantar Public (formerly Infratest).
External Link(s)
GSOEP Innovation Sample Data Description and Access

Registration Citation

Citation
Schrenker, Annekatrin. 2019. "Wage Expectations and Selection Neglect." AEA RCT Registry. August 20. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.4580-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
The study consists of two separate information treatments about average wage gaps. There are two treatment groups, the first treatment only informs about the existing average pay differential whereas the second treatment also gives a hint about the selection effects that drive the average pay gap. The intervention additionally features one control group that receives no information treatment.
Intervention Start Date
2019-09-30
Intervention End Date
2020-03-01

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
average expected wage gap (in percent),
average expected wage level (in Euros),
changes in the distribution of expected wages across treatment
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
baseline awareness of selectivity,
heterogeneity in wage expectations and responsiveness of treatment by potential baseline awareness
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
The experimental data will be supplemented with data from a different subsample of the GSOEP innovation survey that also reports expected wages but receives no randomized information treatment about average wage gaps and is hence comparable to the control group. Baseline awareness of selectivity in this group is measured by the estimated average wage gap within own occupation and the estimated wage changes for an average worker switching employment status within occupation (asymmetry). For this subsample, some related questions were already surveyed in previous waves (2016-2018) and for some analyses we may pool the data to achieve higher power.

Furthermore, the GSOEP innovation sample data are supplemented with background information from the Structure of Earnings Survey (German National Statistical Office, N>1,000,000) about occupational differences in wages, working hours, socio-demographics etc. The purpose of this exercise is to analyze heterogenous treatment effects for different potential baseline awareness about wage gaps across occupations.

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The survey experiment is embedded in the GSOEP Innovation Survey, an annual longitudinal household study that is representative of German households. Interviews are conducted face-to-face, where the interviewer typically reads out the questions from a computer screen (CAPI). For this survey experiment, all respondents of the 2019 wave that are in regular employment will be randomly allocated to either control group or one of the two treatment groups via computerized assignment. All subjects are asked to report their expected wage for a hypothetical change of employment type. To aid respondents in their assessment, everyone receives an estimate of their current hourly wage, which is calculated based on reported monthly income and working hours. Before wage expectations are retrieved, the two treatment groups receive an information treatment about average wage differentials.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
computerized algorithm within a CAPI survey
Randomization Unit
individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
0
Sample size: planned number of observations
970 workers (survey respondents in regular full- or part-time employment excluding self-employed, civil servants and ages<18 or >65, expecting 30% item non-response in the main outcome)
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
323 workers control, 323 workers in treatment 1, 323 workers in treatment 2
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
SOEP Survey Committee
IRB Approval Date
2019-06-16
IRB Approval Number
N/A
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

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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