Bobbing for Widgets: Compensating Wage Differentials

The authors describe a classroom game that introduces the concept of compensating wage differentials by allowing students to negotiate over the assignment of jobs and wages. Two jobs are designed so that neither job requires special skills, but one is significantly more unpleasant than the other. By varying the job titles and duties, students can see how wages respond to changes in job characteristics. The impact of various policy measures, such as comparable worth legislation and safety regulation, is also explored. This game can be conducted in a 50-minute class and requires only a deck of cards, poker chips, and a container of ice water.