How Does Technical Change Affect Worker Productivity in a Multiple-Task Environment?

Abstract

This study investigates worker productivity in a multiple-task environment. We consider workers with the same education level while their suitability patterns for tasks differ. Under no change in tasks for which they are responsible for, there is no difference in their productivity. If responsible tasks decrease as a result of technical change, then worker productivity is diverse among them. Whether the average level of their productivity rises or declines depends on the functional form of productivity. The creation of new tasks may not decrease the variance of their productivity.