Publications Based on SOEP Data: SOEPlit

Nonparametric regression with selectively missing covariates

We consider the problem of regression with selectively observed covariates in a nonparametric framework. Our approach relies on instrumental variables that explain variation in the latent covariates but have no direct effect on selection. The regression function of interest is shown to be a weighted version of observed conditional expectation where the weighting function is a fraction of selection ...

Correction for Breznau et al., Observing many researchers using the same data and hypothesis reveals a hidden universe of uncertainty

Ukrainian refugees: Nearly half intend to stay in Germany for the longer term

Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced by the Russian war on Ukraine, with over one million alone coming to Germany since the beginning of the war. Data from the second survey wave of the IAB-BiB/FReDA-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Ukrainian Refugees in Germany study show that as of the beginning of 2023, an increasing share of Ukrainian refugees plan on staying in Germany for the longer term. Around three ...

Social Trust and the Quality of Government: Evidence for a Reciprocal Relationship

This study theorizes that the relationship between social trust and governmental quality is reciprocal. Examining the relationship in one direction, we utilize socioeconomic conditions as a performance measure of governmental quality and assess their impact on social trust. Going in the other direction, we examine the effects of social trust on political behavior as a determinant of governmental quality. ...

Income, work, and health satisfaction differ primarily by household income, age, and parental status

Subjective well-being is essential for both quality of life and a healthy society. Studies have shown that satisfied people have better relationships, are more productive, and have a longer life expectancy. General life satisfaction is being discussed as an alternative measure of prosperity beyond GDP. Thus, findings on this topic are relevant for both the scientific community as well as policymakers. ...

Kids or no kids? Life goals in one’s 20s predict midlife trajectories of well-being

For many people, parenthood constitutes a crucial part of a successful life. Yet, the number of adults who never have children is increasing and has prompted concerns about their well-being. Past research mostly focused on parents and rarely investigated factors that are theoretically meaningful for the well-being of adults without children. Our preregistered study uses a propensity-score matched design ...

Lonely Today, Lonely Tomorrow: Temporal Dynamics of Loneliness in Everyday Life and its Associations With Psychopathological Symptoms

Although theory emphasizes that loneliness fluctuates in everyday life, most previous studies focused on the general and stable tendency of feeling lonely. In the present study, we used daily diary data collected over two 4-week periods (N1 = 3,309; N2 = 907) to examine different indicators of temporal dynamics of loneliness in everyday life and compare them with temporal dynamics of positive and negative ...

Childbearing under different family policy schemes

Objective: This study assesses whether and how changes in family policies are associated with first and second births in Finland, Germany and the United Kingdom, and whether these associations differ by women's education. Background: Family policies are expected to impact the direct and indirect costs of childbearing by providing resources that influence the monetary and non-monetary costs of ...

Migrant wealth in Germany

Migrant households in Germany hold significantly less wealth than native households, with disparities varying by origin and generation. Using SOEP data (2012, 2017), this study quantifies gaps across the wealth distribution and examines income, saving rates, and portfolio composition. Migrants from low- and middle-income countries exhibit the largest gaps, with persistent disadvantages in the upper ...

Early life-circumstances and preference formation - the case of breastfeeding duration

A growing literature suggests a remarkable heterogeneity in skills and preferences. Although these heterogeneities play an important role in the determination of life outcomes, little is known about their origins. We propose and validate the breastfeeding duration as measure of early lifecircumstances and explore its effects in the development process of risk, time and social preferences. We do so ...