Management, performance and pay

Abstract

We use rich Portuguese data to analyse the relationship between the use of structured management practices and worker pay in a large representative sample of firms. We find that management practices are significantly associated with both higher average wages and higher within-firm wage dispersion.The positive relationship between management practices and average pay is present throughout the wage distribution and for all occupational skill groups, but is stronger for workers higher up in the wage distribution and in higher-skilled occupations. These results are driven by management practices related to incentives, and are also mainly driven by small and medium-sized firms.