We present a field experiment to assess the effect of own and peer wage variations on actual work effort of employees with hourly wages. Work effort neither reacts to an increase of the own wage, nor to a positive or negative peer comparison. This result seems at odds with numerous laboratory experiments that show a clear own wage sensitivity on effort. In an additional real-effort laboratory e...

In this paper we analyze how the primary surplus to GDP ratio in the US reacts to variations in the public debt-GDP ratio. In contrast to earlier studies we perform non-parametric and semi-parametric estimations. Our results show that the response of the primary surplus to GDP ratio is a positive nonlinear function of the debt-GDP ratio. Further, our estimations demonstrate that the coefficient...

We present a model of N-player contracting with transaction costs and endogenous property rights. Ex ante agreed surplus sharing can be altered ex post, after irreversible investments in production (characterised by the generalised Cobb-Douglas production function). The actual surplus sharing is determined ex post, after each player has chosen a costly action to alter the surplus sharing in his...

Agricultural intensification was linked to streamwater pollution in a case study watershed using GIS and nutrient budgeting techniques. The results showed that surplus nitrogen applications from fertilizers and manure averaged 120 kg ha−1 yr−1. In some parts of the watershed surplus applications exceeded 300 kg ha−1 yr−1. A consistent increase in pig and chicken numbers (59 and 165% increase be...