Publications Based on SOEP Data: SOEPlit

There and back again – estimating equivalence scales with measurement error

Using income satisfaction data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, we find large differences in the equivalence weight of a partner when it is being estimated by direct and reverse regressions. We argue that neither of the two models will produce consistent estimates when there is stochastic error in satisfaction and measurement error in incomes. We propose a correction of mismeasured incomes using ...

Preferences for Childcare Policies: Theory and Evidence

We analyse preferences for public, private or mixed provision of childcare theoretically and empirically. We model childcare as a publicly provided private good. Richer households should prefer private provision to either pure public or mixed provision. If public provision redistributes from rich to poor, they should favour mixed over pure public provision, but if public provision redistributes from ...

Smarter every day: The deceleration of population ageing in terms of cognition

Cognitive decline correlates with age-associated health risks and has been shown to be a good predictor of future morbidity and mortality. Cognitive functioning can therefore be considered an important measure of differential ageing across cohorts and population groups. Here, we investigate if and why individuals aged 50+ born into more recent cohorts perform better in terms of cognition than their ...

Adequacy of Pension Systems in Europe: An Analysis Based on Comprehensive Replacement Rates

Providing access for all individuals to appropriate pension entitlements, public and/or private, which allow them to maintain, to a reasonable degree, their standard of living after retirement is considered a social policy objective.1 An exploration of the above objective can be performed by comparing the individuals’ living standards when active and when retired. The aim of this paper is to develop ...

The Economics and Psychology of Personality Traits

This paper explores the interface between personality psychology and economics. We examine the predictive power of personality and the stability of personality traits over the life cycle. We develop simple analytical frameworks for interpreting the evidence in personality psychology and suggest promising avenues for future research.

Do Older Worker Have More Trouble Using a Computer than Younger Worker?

The Diffusion of Computers and the Distribution of Wages

Hourly Wages in Lower Deciles No Longer Lagging behind When It Comes to Wage Growth

For many years, only better-paid workers benefited from Germany’s real wage increases. In contrast, dependent employees with lower hourly wages suffered substantial losses, while the low-wage sector expanded. Around 2010, these trends came to an end. Now all wage groups benefit from wage increases—even if those in the middle of the distribution lag somewhat behind. At the very least, this new pattern ...

The Soccer World Cup in Germany: A Major Sporting and Cultural Event - But Without Notable Business Cycle Effects

Demographic Change Necessitates Educational Reform and Lifelong Learning