Publications Based on SOEP Data: SOEPlit

Earnings and Employment Effects of Continuous Off-the-Job Training in East Germany After Unification

The effects of continuous off-the-job training (OFT) for East Germans after unification are analyzed in terms of their earnings and employment probabilities. Using the potential outcome approach to causality as general framework, different matching procedures are suggested for the estimation. They allow for permanent and transitory shocks that influence OFT participation and labor market outcomes. ...

The Effect of Enterprise-related Continuous Vocational Training in East Germany on Individual Employment and Earnings

The paper studies the returns from enterprise-related continuous vocational training on individual earnings, unemployment probabilities, and other labour market indicators in East Germany after unification. It attempts to solve the intrinsic identification problem of such evaluation problems nonparametrically by using restrictions "produced" by unification as well as by using very informative ...

An Evaluation of Public-Sector-Sponsored Continuous Vocational Training Programs in East Germany

Long-run labour market and health effects of individual sports activities

This microeconometric study analyzes the effects of individual leisure sports participation on long-term labour market variables, health and subjective well-being indicators for West Germany based on individual data from the German Socio-Economic Panel study (GSOEP) 1984–2006. Econometric problems due to individuals choosing their own level of sports activities are tackled by combining informative ...

Empirical Evidence on Educational Effects of Physical Activity: Four Examples

In this paper, we address the question of how physical activity of children and young adults affect their educational outcomes. To do so, we will take up four examples of our own work to illustrate different aspects of this research agenda. In contrast to the amazingly large literature on health effects, educational outcomes received much less attention. This is surprising given that building-up human ...

Planning for Self-Employment at the Beginning of a Market Economy: Evidence from Individual Data of East German Workers

We investigate the plans of individual workers concerning future self-employment in the former German Democratic Republic shortly before the economic, monetary and social union in June/July 1990. Our data base is the Socio-Economic Panel East. We find that the desire to become an entrepreneur is basically determined by individual and household characteristics, including income and asset indicators, ...

Expected Job Loss in East Germany Shortly Before German Unification

We investigate expectations concerning future job loss in the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany) shortly before the economic, monetary and social union in July 1990. In order to model these expectations, we take detailed account of individual heterogeneity, the availability and interpretation of information, and the economic and social environment of the individual. Our data base is the ...

Labour Market Dynamics and Employee Expectations in East Germany Following Reunification

The Effect of Disability on Labour Market Outcomes in Germany: Evidence from Matching

Worker Identity, Employment Fluctuations and Stabilization Policy

This paper provides a model of “social hysteresis,” whereby long, deep recessions demotivate workers and thereby lead them to change their work ethic. In switching from a pro-work to an anti-work identity, their incentives to seek and retain work fall and consequently their employment chances fall. In this way, temporary recessions may come to have permanent effects on aggregate employment. We also ...