Akerlof, G. A., &Kranton, R. E. (2005). Identity and the Economics of Organizations. Journal of Economic perspectives, 19(1), 9-32.
The economics of organizations is replete with the pitfalls of monetary rewards and punishments to motivate workers. If economic incentives do not work, what does? This paper proposes that workers' self-image as jobholders, coupled with their ideal as to how their job should be done, can be a major work incentive. It shows how such identities can flatten reward schedules, as they solve "principal-agent" problem. ...