Changing inequality in markets for workplace amenities

Among U.S. industries where earnings rose relatively from 1979-1995, injury rates declined relatively. Obversely, during the 1960s narrowing interindu stry wage differentials were associated with an increase in the relative ri sk of injury in high-wage industries. Evidence from the NLSY suggests simil ar results among full-time workers between 1988 and 1996. Between 1973 and 1991 the disamenity of evening/night work was increasingly borne by low-wag e male workers. Changing earnings inequality has understated changing inequ ality in the returns to work. Assuming skill-neutral changes in the cost of reducing these disamenities, estimates of the implied income elasticities of demand for amenities are well above unity.