Why Do Unfairly Paid Trainees Persist? Pay Fairness and Human Capital Investment in Development Leagues

Pay fairness and human capital theories make different predictions about trainees’ occupational turnover in situations where trainees perceive unfair pay but receive huge potential returns from training. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine how investment combined explain why are motivated persist employment when they pay. Cross-sectional survey data 144 minor league baseball players showed that athletes perceived had low intentions because high learning achievement expected play Major League Baseball eventually. Perceptions only increased under certain conditions, such as expectations playing at least one game next 3 years. The results support a framework combines theory boundary conditions for trainee motivation.