December 2000

IZA DP No. 221: Wages as Risk Compensation in Germany

revised version published as 'Do Firms Pay for Perceived Risks at Work?' in: Schmalenbach Business Review, 2001, 53, 229-229

The theory of compensating wage differentials is generally accepted. Still, there has been no strong or even contrary evidence for compensating wage differentials in Germany so far. Estimating wage regressions with data of the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) within individually perceived hazards of work accidents as a risk variable, evidence for compensating wage differentials in Germany is found even though other effects may partly weaken the existing wage premiums due to risks at work.