Fairness concerns and job assignment to positions with different surplus

How does job assignment to positions with different surplus affect fairness concerns? We experimentally examine agents' concerns in a three-person ultimatum game which all agents are asked complete general knowledge quiz before being assigned high-stake or low-stake position. disentangle two possible channels through impacts concerns, wage differences, and the principal's intentions, by comparing cases is determined randomly principal. The quiz, mimics performance evaluation, signifies distinction between as it provides basis on principal can make decision. find that intentions significantly impact of position, but differences themselves do not. elaborate managerial implications our findings.