The role of managers in the Norwegian working life model

This project investigates the relationship between observable characteristics of general managers in the private sector and key firm-level outcomes such as the wage share and productivity. A central question is what role managers play in realizing the potential of the Norwegian model of cooperation.

Previous research has shown that cooperation between employers and trade unions – as measured by high union density and the presence of collective agreements – can contribute to both equitable wage distribution and high productivity. However, we know less about how managers’ skills and background affect this dynamic.

This project therefore explores whether certain types of managers – for example, those with education in economics and business administration – approach cooperation differently, and how this relates to firm development.

We use rich Norwegian register data that allow us to identify all general managers in the private sector and link their background to detailed information about the firms they lead and the employees who work there. Through both descriptive analyses and methods that account for selection, we examine whether differences in managerial characteristics translate into measurable differences in firm outcomes.