A model of worker investment in safety and its effects on accidents and wages

"In this paper, we develop a theoretical model of worker investment in safety. Standard theory assumes that injury risk is exogenous. It predicts that riskier jobs are associated with higher wages. In contrast, in our model, workers make individual safety investments that reduce the risk of inj...

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Main Authors: Guardado, José R., Ziebarth, Nicolas R.
Institution:ETUI-European Trade Union Institute
Format: TEXT
Language:English
Published: Bonn 2013
IZA
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.labourline.org/KENTIKA-19126983124919441659-a-model-of-worker-investment-i.htm
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author Guardado, José R.
Ziebarth, Nicolas R.
author_facet Guardado, José R.
Ziebarth, Nicolas R.
collection Library items
description "In this paper, we develop a theoretical model of worker investment in safety. Standard theory assumes that injury risk is exogenous. It predicts that riskier jobs are associated with higher wages. In contrast, in our model, workers make individual safety investments that reduce the risk of injury. This results in a negative association between individual injury risk and wages. We test the model's predictions using obesity as a proxy for worker disinvestments in human capital and safety. In line with our model predictions, we find a significant positive compensating wage differential (CWD) for nonfatal risk at the occupational level. At the same time, however, there exists an underlying significant negative association between individual accident risk and wages, but only in high risk occupations. The latter relationship may downward bias or mask CWD estimates. "
format TEXT
id 19126983124919441659_5112231fb925435ca001aa3bf4937a6c
institution ETUI-European Trade Union Institute
is_hierarchy_id 19126983124919441659_5112231fb925435ca001aa3bf4937a6c
is_hierarchy_title A model of worker investment in safety and its effects on accidents and wages
language English
physical 28 p.
Digital
publishDate 2013
publisher Bonn
IZA
spellingShingle Guardado, José R.
Ziebarth, Nicolas R.
obesity
occupational safety
occupational accidents
occupational risks
wage differential
wages
A model of worker investment in safety and its effects on accidents and wages
thumbnail https://www.labourline.org/Image_prev.jpg?Archive=100528092870
title A model of worker investment in safety and its effects on accidents and wages
topic obesity
occupational safety
occupational accidents
occupational risks
wage differential
wages
url https://www.labourline.org/KENTIKA-19126983124919441659-a-model-of-worker-investment-i.htm