Abstract: In existing studies on incentive policies for intellectual employees, the economical incentive is emphasized but the employees' social preference is ignored. In this paper, incentive study for intellectual employees with their social preference considered. With the characteristics of the intellectual employees analyzed, the incentive policies are classified into three catalogues: economic, social preference, and auxiliary incentive policies. Based on this classification, the effect of social preference incentive policies on the output of the intellectual employees is analyzed. It shows that social preference incentive policies can greatly increase the enthusiasm of the intellectual employees. Thus, it is important to properly apply the social preference incentive policies.

Key words: intellectual employee, social preference, incentive policy