Research carried out by Brian Bell and John Van Reenen at the LSE has found that the performance of firms could explain between one-quarter and one-half of the rise in the gap between the pay of workers and chief executives.

'Firm Performance and Wages: Evidence from Across the Corporate Hierarchy’, Brian Bell and John Van Reenen, Centre for Economic Performance Discussion Paper No.1088, November 2011

Related links

Brian Bell webpage
John Van Reenen webpage
Productivity and Innovation Programme webpage
ESRC Festival of Social Science Event:  ‘Top Pay in the UK’ on Friday 4 November 2011. Event Info and papers