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Collischon, Matthias (2019): Relative Pay, Rank and Happiness: A Comparison Between Genders and Part- and Full-Time Employees. In: Journal of happiness studies, Jg. 20, H. 1, S. 67-80., 2017-11-01. DOI:10.1007/s10902-017-9937-z

Abstract

"This paper investigates the effects of comparison pay on job and life satisfaction with longitudinal survey data from Germany. I use linear fixed effects models to account for unobserved heterogeneity and define the reference groups as individuals within the same occupation and industry. Men and women are expected to behave differently to comparison pay and are therefore investigated separately. Additionally, I investigate full- and part-time employees separately because the effect of relative positions in the reference group should affect life satisfaction for full-time employees only. The findings indicate that both relative pay and the individual rank within the respective reference group affect job and life satisfaction for full-time employed males only, while part-time employed females gain job satisfaction with increasing rank within their reference group. Part-time employees experience no change in their life satisfaction due to changes in either inequality dimension." (Author's abstract, © 2019 Springer Nature ((en))

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Dhoore, Jasper, Stijn Daenekindt & Henk Roose (2019): Social mobility and life satisfaction across European countries. A compositional perspective on dissociative consequences of social mobility. In: Social indicators research, Jg. 144, H. 3, S. 1257-1272. DOI:10.1007/s11205-019-02083-2

Abstract

"A classic claim in social mobility effects research holds that social mobility is a disruptive and harmful experience. It has been suggested that the experience of social mobility is less disruptive when mobility at the national level is high, because this increases the social and cultural heterogeneity of social classes, which may facilitate the adaptation to the social class of destination. In this article we empirically test the tenability of this claim for social class mobility and life satisfaction. Using Diagonal Reference Models on data for 44 European countries from the 2008 European Values Study, we find evidence for processes of acculturation: the life satisfaction of socially mobile individuals is associated with the class of origin and destination. There is no evidence for effects of social mobility over and above those of social class position of origin and destination. Interestingly, in contrast to suggestions from the literature, national upward or downward mobility rates do not moderate the effect of social mobility on life satisfaction. This study suggests that class heterogeneity does not influence the difficulty of the adaptation to the social class of destination." (Author's abstract, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Donlevy, Vicky, Barry van Driel & Cecile Hoareau McGrath (2019): Education as self-fulfilment and self-satisfaction. (JRC working papers series on labour, education and technology 2019,06), Sevilla, 52 S.

Abstract

"Key drivers of contemporary rapid changes in the educational realm relate to ongoing technological, demographic, economic and social developments in modern European societies. These developments are having an impact on education throughout the lifespan, including a shift to a focus on new types of competences. This shift is becoming increasingly profound in a dynamic, multicultural, and interconnected Europe. The evidence, from various fields of research, shows that non-cognitive competences such as resilience, creativity, and empathy - as well as those noncognitive competences associated with social-emotional learning and active citizenship - have a positive impact on well-being and also performance. This paper takes a closer look at recent developments relating to these issues across the EU, both in terms of challenges and opportunities, and identifies practices that can serve as inspiration for future policies and practices. The paper reviews the literature as well as current practice related to trends, drivers, practices and future developments relating to four key sub-topics: non-cognitive competences as a broader topic; then resilience, creativity, and active citizenship as more specific sub-topics." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Fitzroy, Felix, Jim Jin & Michael Nolan (2019): Higher tax and less work: An optimal response to relative income concern. (IZA discussion paper 12468), Bonn, 21 S.

Abstract

"There is much evidence that relative income concern reduces subjective wellbeing and raises labour supply - 'keeping up with the Joneses' (KUJ), while increasing use of social media and growing inequality encourage comparison. Models with one or two agent - types generally miss the policy relevant dimension of labour force participation, so we include a distribution of wages with intensive and extensive margins of labour supply, both of which are increased by comparison. The optimal tax response increases with comparison, but, surprisingly, dominates the comparison effect and reduces individual labour supply, thus reversing KUJ, and maintains constant employment, independent of comparison." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Hetschko, Clemens, Andreas Knabe & Ronnie Schöb (2019): Looking back in anger? Retirement and unemployment scarring. In: Demography, Jg. 56, H. 3, S. 1105-1129., 2018-10-31. DOI:10.1007/s13524-019-00778-2

Abstract

"Unemployment affects future working conditions and job security negatively, thus reducing life satisfaction after reemployment. These employment-related scars of unemployment should not matter anymore when a person has retired. Using German panel data, we analyze unemployed persons' transition into retirement to test whether unemployment leaves scars beyond working life and thus for reasons that are not employment-related. We find that involuntary unemployment between the last job and retirement causes a loss in life satisfaction after retirement. People who influenced or even initiated unemployment, by contrast, show no scarring. The scarring effect goes beyond what can be explained by the income loss originating from reduced pensions. It shows up independently of whether the unemployment spell directly before retirement was the only experience of unemployment in a person's career, or whether she had also experienced unemployment at earlier times. We do not find evidence that early retirement or involuntary retirement are the reasons why formerly unemployed retirees display unemployment scarring." (Author's abstract, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Högberg, Björn, Jonas Voßemer, Michael Gebel & Mattias Strandh (2019): Unemployment, well-being, and the moderating role of education policies. A multilevel study. In: International Journal of Comparative Sociology, Jg. 60, H. 4, S. 269-291. DOI:10.1177/0020715219874386

Abstract

"This article aims to investigate if education policies moderate the association between unemployment and well-being among young adults. Based on the capability approach, we argue that education policies mitigate the negative effects of unemployment by providing opportunities for education and thus ways to exit unemployment. Education policies can strengthen capabilities, enhance the control that individuals have over their situation, and thereby reduce the stress associated with unemployment. We estimated cross-level interactions between education policies and unemployment status using multilevel methods and data from the European Social Survey. Results showed that policies that increase educational opportunities - such as generous second chance opportunities - were associated with smaller negative effects of unemployment on well-being and that this moderating impact was stronger for young adults with low education. Further analyses show that education policies are also associated with perceived capabilities among unemployed, supporting the proposed mechanism." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Morgan, Robson & Kelsey J. O'Connor (2019): Labor market policy and subjective well-being during the Great Recession. (GLO discussion paper / Global Labor Organization 372), Maastricht, 32 S.

Abstract

"Average subjective well-being decreased in Europe during the Great Recession, primarily among people with less than a college education and people younger than retirement age. However, some countries fared better than others depending on their labor market policies. More generous unemployment support, which provided income replacement or programs to assist unemployed workers find jobs, mitigated the negative effects for most of the population, although not youth. In contrast, stricter employment protection legislation exacerbated the negative effects. We present further evidence that suggests the exacerbating effects of employment protection legislation are due to greater rigidities in the labor market, which in turn affect perceived future job prospects. Our analysis is based on two-stage least squares regressions using individual subjective wellbeing data obtained from Eurobarometer surveys and variation in labor market policy across 23 European countries." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Ponomarenko, Valentina, Anja K. Leist & Louis Chauvel (2019): Increases in wellbeing in the transition to retirement for the unemployed. Catching up with formerly employed persons. In: Ageing and society, Jg. 39, H. 2, S. 254-276. DOI:10.1017/S0144686X17000976

Abstract

"This paper examines the extent to which wellbeing levels change in the transition to retirement depending on transitioning from being employed, unemployed or economically inactive. Whereas transitioning from employment to unemployment has been found to cause a decrease in subjective wellbeing with more time spent in unemployment, it is not clear how transitioning from unemployment to retirement affects wellbeing levels. We use the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe to monitor the life satisfaction of respondents who retire in between two waves. We portray wellbeing scores before and after retirement and then identify the change in life satisfaction during the retirement transition using a First Difference model. Results indicate that being unemployed before retirement is associated with an increase in life satisfaction, but presents mainly a catching-up effect compared to employed persons transitioning to retirement. These results are still significant if we control for selection into unemployment and country differences. Retirement from labour market inactivity does not lead to significant changes in wellbeing. As the wellbeing of unemployed persons recovers after transitioning to retirement, especially the currently unemployed population should be supported to prevent detrimental consequences of economically unfavourable conditions and lower wellbeing." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Rose, Damaris & Olga Stavrova (2019): Does life satisfaction predict reemployment? Evidence form German panel data. In: Journal of economic psychology, Jg. 72, H. June, S. 1-11. DOI:10.1016/j.joep.2018.12.008

Abstract

"While life satisfaction has been identified as an important predictor of occupational success, the question of whether it might contribute to reemployment success among unemployed individuals has received much less research attention. Contrasting three theoretical perspectives (motivation theories, positive psychology, and the optimum level of well-being literature), we explored whether life satisfaction has a negative, a positive, or a non-monotonic effect on the likelihood of reemployment. We used large-scale panel data from Germany that gave us the possibility to monitor unemployed individuals' life satisfaction and labor market outcomes for 10?years. Results of a multi-level discrete-time hazard analysis supported the optimum level of well-being perspective providing evidence for an inverted-U-shaped association between life satisfaction and reemployment probability. Moderate levels of life satisfaction were associated with a stronger likelihood of reemployment than lower or higher levels of life satisfaction. This effect remained robust against controlling for individuals' socio-economic characteristics, labor market experience and the Big Five personality traits." (Author's abstract, © 2018 Elsevier) ((en))

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Sage, Daniel (2019): Unemployment, wellbeing and the power of the work ethic. Implications for social policy. In: Critical social policy, Jg. 39, H. 2, S. 205-228. DOI:10.1177/0261018318780910

Abstract

"Unemployment is associated with a range of health and social problems, such as poor physical health and wellbeing. Welfare state research has recently considered how social policies can ameliorate the harmful effects of unemployment. This article argues that such policy suggestions disregard the role of the work ethic in shaping the experience of unemployment. In societies that glorify employment as a signifier of identity and status, it is unsurprising that those without employment suffer. Previous research supports this view, showing how subscription to the work ethic is associated with wellbeing amongst unemployed people. Original analysis of the European Values Study confirms the importance of the work ethic, showing how unemployed people with weaker work ethics have significantly higher life satisfaction than those with stronger work ethics. The article concludes that the most effective way of dealing with the deleterious effects of unemployment is to challenge the centrality of employment in contemporary societies." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Sameem, Sediq & Pavlo Buryi (2019): Impact of unemployment on happiness in the United States. In: Applied Economics Letters, Jg. 26, H. 12, S. 1049-1052. DOI:10.1080/13504851.2018.1529390

Abstract

"This study considers the level of demonstrated happiness and unhappiness, the latter measured by the conditional probability of committing suicide within groups that are facing a higher unemployment rate and those that are not. Using individual-level US data from 1989 to 2004, our findings indicate that individuals have lower rates of suicide or are 'happy' when they live in a state that has lower unemployment rate." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Becker, Dominik & Klaus Birkelbach (2018): Social mobility and subjective well-being revisited. The importance of individual locus of control. In: Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, Jg. 54, H. April, S. 1-20. DOI:10.1016/j.rssm.2018.01.001

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Headey, Bruce & Ruud Muffels (2018): A theory of life satisfaction dynamics: Stability, change and volatility in 25-year life trajectories in Germany. In: Social indicators research, Jg. 140, H. 2, S. 837-866. DOI:10.1007/s11205-017-1785-z

Abstract

"An adequate theory of life satisfaction (LS) needs to take account of both factors that tend to stabilise LS and those that change it. The most widely accepted theory in the recent past -- set-point theory -- focussed solely on stability (Brickman and Campbell, in: Appley (ed) Adaptation level theory, Academic Press, New York, pp 287 - 302, 1971; Lykken and Tellegen in Psychol Sci 7:186 - 189, 1996). That theory is now regarded as inadequate by most researchers, given that national panel surveys in several Western countries show that substantial minorities of respondents have recorded large, long term changes in LS (Sheldon and Lucas in The stability of happiness, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2014). In this paper we set out a preliminary revised theory, based mainly on analysis of the LS trajectories of the 2473 respondents in the German Socio-Economic Panel who reported their LS for 25 consecutive years in 1990 - 2014. The theory entails three sets of propositions in which we attempt to account for stability, change and also volatility. First, it is proposed that stability is primarily due to stable personality traits, and also to parental influence on LS. The second set of propositions indicates that medium and long term changes are due to differences and changes in personal values/life priorities and behavioural choices. Differences in the priority given to pro-social values, family values and materialistic values affect LS, as do behavioural choices relating to one's partner, physical exercise, social participation and networks, church attendance, and the balance between work and leisure. Medium term change is reinforced by two-way causation -- positive feedback loops -- between values, behavioural choices and LS. The third set of propositions breaks new ground in seeking to explain inter-individual differences in the volatility/variability of LS over time; why some individuals display high volatility and others low, even though their mean level of LS may change little over 25 years." (Author's abstract, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Hetschko, Clemens, Benjamin Küfner & Gesine Stephan (2018): Arbeitslosigkeit und Wohlbefinden: Interdisziplinäre Tagung des IAB eröffnet neue Einblicke. In: IAB-Forum H. 16.03.2018, o. Sz., 2018-03-13.

Abstract

"Die Erforschung von mentaler Gesundheit und Glück oder - wissenschaftlich formuliert, von subjektivem Wohlbefinden - hat in der Arbeitsmarktforschung in den vergangenen Jahren stark an Bedeutung gewonnen. 44 Forscherinnen und Forscher aus dem In- und Ausland trafen sich am 25. und 26. Januar dieses Jahres in Nürnberg, um den Zusammenhang zwischen Arbeitslosigkeit und Wohlbefinden aus verschiedenen Perspektiven zu beleuchten." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Hoorn, André van (2018): Is the happiness approach to measuring preferences valid? In: Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, Jg. 73, H. April, S. 53-65. DOI:10.1016/j.socec.2018.02.002

Abstract

"Estimating heterogeneous happiness or subjective well-being (SWB) functions and making inferences about differences in people's tastes or preferences has some interesting advantages over stated and revealed preferences methods and is growing in popularity. However, evidence on the validity of such SWB-based or 'inferred' preferences measures, meaning these measures' ability to capture what they are supposed to capture, is lacking, widespread evidence on the (construct) validity of SWB indicators themselves notwithstanding. Empirical analysis reveals that differences in preferences inferred from heterogeneity in estimated happiness functions map onto differences in self-reported behavior and attitudes in expected ways, suggesting that SWB-based measures of differences in preferences indeed capture the construct they are supposed to capture. Hence, the conclusion that the happiness approach provides a valid means for making inferences about differences in people's preferences." (Author's abstract, © 2018 Elsevier) ((en))

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Kaiser, Caspar (2018): People do not adapt to income changes. A re-evaluation of the dynamic effects of (reference) income on life satisfaction with GSOEP and UKHLS data. (INET Oxford working paper 2018-07), 46 S.

Abstract

"Do people adapt to changes in income? This paper shows that there is no evidence of adaptation to income in GSOEP (1984-2015) and UKHLS (1996-2015) data. Following the empirical approach of Vendrik (2013), I arrive at this surprising answer by estimating (dynamic) life satisfaction equations, in which I simultaneously enter contemporaneous and lagged terms for a respondent’s own household income and their estimated reference income. Additionally, I instrument for own income and include lags of a large set of controls. Furthermore, I find that people also do not adapt to changes in reference income. Instead, reference income effects may be subject to reinforcement over time. To explain my findings, a comprehensive account of the puzzling and often divergent results of Ferrer-i-Carbonell and Van Praag (2008), Binder and Coad (2010), Di Tella et al. (2010), and Pfaff (2013) is given. What was found to be adaptation to raw household income in these studies turns out to have been driven by reinforcement of an initially small negative effect of household size that grows large over time. Implications of this result for the estimation of equivalence scales with subjective data are discussed." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Lerch, Nils (2018): The causal analysis of the development of the unemployment effect on life satisfaction. (SOEPpapers on multidisciplinary panel data research at DIW Berlin 991), Berlin, 51 S.

Abstract

"The long-term negative effects of unemployment, especially on subjective well-being, have been indicated by many studies. Therefore, unemployment and its effects on the individual life course must remain an important challenge for social policy. Many studies have focused on the cognitive component of subjective well-being, i.e., life satisfaction, and have analysed in particular its development during the unemployment period. The trajectory is usually characterized by the effects of anticipation, reaction and adaption. Studies have shown different findings regarding the shape of the effect development. The present study discusses the effect development in greater detail and analyses whether the development of the effect is different depending on unemployment experience using longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) and applying fixed effects regressions. The findings of this study support a non-linear effect development, which begins with the anticipation of unemployment. The trend can be described by a linear function and polynomials up to the fifth degree. The introduction of a model according to modern causal analysis and the interpretation of the dynamic development of the counterfactual outcomes are the secondary focuses of the study. A detailed discussion of causal assumptions and necessary control variables is needed to reveal the effect of unemployment on life satisfaction. The SOEP provides information about employment status on a monthly basis. This study shows possibilities for using this information for the construction of control groups and treatment groups and analyses with ideal episode patterns." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Merz, Joachim (2018): Are retirees more satisfied? Anticipation and adaptation effects of retirement on subjective well-being. A panel analysis for Germany. (SOEPpapers on multidisciplinary panel data research at DIW Berlin 986), Berlin, 37 S.

Abstract

"Lebensqualität und Lebenszufriedenheit ist für den Einzelnen wie aber auch für die Gesellschaft insgesamt vor dem Hintergrund des demographischen Wandels mit nun länger andauernder Phase nach dem Eintritt in den Ruhestand von besonderer Bedeutung. Die vorliegende Studie will zur Diskussion der Lebenszufriedenheit einen empirisch fundierten Beitrag leisten insbesondere die Lebenszufriedenheit vor und nach einem markanten Ereignis, dem Renteneintritt, quantifizieren und dafür Erklärungsmuster finden. Vor allem wird mit den individuellen Verlaufsdaten und 33 Wellen des Sozio-ökonomischen Panels (SOEP) und der mikroökonometrischen kausalen fixed effects robusten Panelanalyse analysiert, ob die individuelle Lebenszufriedenheit tatsächlich vor dem Renteneintritt absinkt, der Renteneintritt sie hochschnellen lässt und sie nach einer gewissen Zeit wieder auf das vorherige Niveau der Lebenszufriedenheit absinkt. Zu klären wird also zu sein, ob sich ein solches Muster herausschält und wie bedeutend Antizipation und Adaption - bekannt von anderen markanten Ereignissen - für die Lebenszufriedenheit vor und nach dem Renteneintritt in Deutschland sind. Hauptergebnis: Individuelle und familiäre Faktoren erhöhen die Lebenszufriedenheit nach dem Renteneintritt für viele Jahre. Allerdings absorbiert die (vormalige) Arbeitssituation diesen Effekt sowohl für GRV Rentner als auch für Pensionäre (Beamte). Es verbleibt nur eine Periode der Verbesserung mit Antizipation und Adaption nahe dem Renteneintritt aber keine signifikante längere Änderung im Vergleich zur Lebenszufriedenheit vor dem Renteneintritt. Dies gilt für GRV Rentner, für Pensionäre wird kein signifikanter Effekt überhaupt feststellbar." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Mousteri, Victoria & Liam Delaney (2018): The scarring effect of unemployment on psychological well-being across Europe. In: Social science research, Jg. 72, H. May, S. 146-169. DOI:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2018.01.007

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Roex, Karlijn L. A. & Jesper J. Rözer (2018): The social norm to work and the well-being of the short- and long-term unemployed. In: Social indicators research, Jg. 139, H. 3, S. 1037-1064. DOI:10.1007/s11205-017-1723-0

Abstract

"Why are the unemployed particularly unhappy in some societies? According to the social norm theory of unemployment, the well-being of the non-employed is lower in countries with a strong social norm to work because of the greater stigma attached to unemployment. In this study, a social norm to work has been defined as the extent to which people expect others to work: do people think the unemployed should take any job they are offered, or should they have a right to refuse? The combined world and European values study and the European social survey were used to test the theory. Multilevel analyses show that - net of one's own norm and other measures of the social norm to work, such as one's personal work ethic - the well-being of unemployed men is lower in countries with a strong social norm to work, in particular that of the long-term unemployed. Overall, it appears that the social norm to work still weighs more heavily upon men than women." (Author's abstract, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))