Publications Based on SOEP Data: SOEPlit

Income, poverty and dynamics in Germany

Quality of life and inequality (Chapter 7)

The term ‘quality of life research’ refers to a general theoretical framework rather than to a specific theory of welfare or well-being. Most of the various definitions and conceptions of quality of life within this framework cite the multidimensional character of living conditions. In this respect, they differ from views of economic welfare that are primarily income-or GDP-driven. Another broadly ...

Social Jealousy and Stigma: Negative Externalities of Social Assistance Payments in Germany

This paper examines the role of social assistance payments (SAP or Sozialhilfe) in determining levels of life satisfaction in Germany using the SOEP 1995-2004. We find strong evidence that individuals in Germany are negatively influenced by increased SAP payments controlling for income, whether or not they actually receive such payments (stigma and social jealousy). While there are obvious benefits ...

You're Fired! The Causal Negative Effect of Entry Unemployment on Life Satisfaction

This paper examines the impact of unemployment on life satisfaction for Germany 1984–2006, using a sample of men and women from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). Across the board we find large significant negative effects for unemployment on life satisfaction.This paper expands on previous cornerstone research from Winkelmann and Winkelmann (1998) and explicitly identifies truly exogenous unemployment ...

Heresy or enlightenment? The well-being age U-shape effect is flat

The otherwise seemingly robust age U-shape effect on life satisfaction in pooled OLS regressions is refuted with the German SOEP when controlling for panel fixed effects and respondent experience in the panel. Interviewer characteristics also impact significantly on life satisfaction responses.

Re-employment Expectations and the Eye of Providence

Using a nationally representative panel dataset, this study investigates the extent and impact of systematic misconceptions of the currently unemployed concerning their statistical re-employment probability, affecting their labor market behavior in a sub-optimal way. Specifically, people with unemployment experience of 3 to 5 years significantly underestimate their objective re-employment probabilities ...

Re-employment expectations and realisations: Prediction errors and behavioural responses

Using a nationally representative panel dataset, this study investigates the extent and impact of systematic misconceptions that the currently unemployed have about their prospect of re-employment. Such biased expectations are of interest because of their capacity to drive sub-optimal labour market behaviour. Specifically, people with unemployment experience of three to five years significantly underestimate ...

Beyond GDP and Back: What is the Value-Added by Additional Components of Welfare Measurement?

Recently, building on the highly polarizing Stiglitz report, a growing literature suggests that statistical offices and applied researchers explore other aspects of human welfare apart from material well-being, such as job security, crime, health, environmental factors and subjective perceptions. To explore the additional information of these indicators, we analyze data on the macro level from the ...

Intergenerational Mobility, Redistribution and the Long Term Dynamics of Income Inequality or: Think Of the Children, Too! (Diplomarbeit)

Young and at risk? Consequences of job insecurity for mental health and satisfaction among labor market entrants with different levels of education

Young workers are often temporarily employed and thus likely to experience job insecurity. This study investigates associations of objective job insecurity (i.e., temporary employment) and subjectively perceived job insecurity with mental health, job satisfaction and life satisfaction among young workers, testing the moderating role of education. The longitudinal analysis based on 1522 labor market ...