Abstract
The authors develop a theory in which consistency of ranks on position and ability affect individual satisfaction and system stability. The mechanism is rewards associated with different patterns. For instance, when position is rewarded more than ability, a low ability individual with a high position will be satisfied; when position and ability are rewarded equally, then rank consistency will be most satisfactory.
Kimberly, James C; Crosbie, Paul V. (2015). An Experimental Test of a Reward-Cost Formulation of Status Inconsistency. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /154667.