When Should a Firm Employ its Workers? A Relational Contracting Approach

Abstract

A principal hiring an agent chooses between employment and self-employment. Under employment, the principal can control the manner in which the agent performs the assignment (the ‘work design’), whereas this is legally forbidden under self-employment. Due to incomplete contracts, the relationship is governed by relational agreements, which are influenced by the allocation of control. We show that employment typically results in an over-demanding work design, compared to an under-demanding work design under self-employment, and that employment relationships are more rigid and better suited to favorable production environments. We further examine the impact of taxation, minimum wages, and formal performance pay.