[scotttobejoking]

This one is a bit of a puff piece...

Workers work harder in a recession. No big surprise. But I fail to see a clear link between a recession and "punishment or pampering".

The one is a general climate which makes you value your job more, and the other is an act of relationship between you and your employer. It's not at all clear whether punishment or pampering is more effective at making you value your job (or your employer) more.

I would suspect that a more valuable line of approach than looking at recession statistics (who's going to manufacture a recession to get their employees to stay?) would be to ask a parent of children whether to use the carrot of the stick. They would probably point out that:

1)All their children are different and respond differently

2)Both negative and positive feedback are needed, but at different times, and in complicated ways.

Edit: clarity of language