We study the effect of recognition on performance with a field experiment involving first-year undergraduate students … that conformance to performance norm is the most likely behavioral mechanism behind our findings. …

This paper addresses a lack of evidence on the impact of performance pay in the public sector by evaluating a pilot … targets, measured with varying degrees of precision. We use data from the agency's performance management system and personnel … records plus matched labour market data. We focus on three main issues: whether performance pay matters for public service …