Template-type: ReDif-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Bonsang Eric 
Author-Name: Soest Arthur van
Author-workplace-name: ROA rm
Title: Satisfaction with job and income among older individuals across European countries
Abstract: Using data on individuals of age 50 and older from 11 European countries, we analyzetwo economic aspects of subjective well-being of older Europeans: satisfaction withhousehold income, and job satisfaction. Both have been shown to contribute substantiallyto overall well-being (satisfaction with life or happiness). We use anchoring vignettes tocorrect for potential differences in response scales across countries.The results highlight a large variation in self-reported income satisfaction, which ispartly explained by differences in response scales. When differences in response scalesare eliminated, the cross country differences are quite well in line with differences inan objective measure of purchasing power of household income. There are commonfeatures in the response scale differences in job satisfaction and income satisfaction.French respondents tend to be critical in both assessments, while Danish and Dutchrespondents are always on the optimistic end of the spectrum. Moreover, correcting forresponse scale differences decreases the cross-country association between satisfactionwith income and job satisfaction among workers.
Keywords: labour economics ; 
Series: Research Memoranda
Creation-Date: 2010
Number: 011
File-URL: http://digitalarchive.maastrichtuniversity.nl/fedora/objects/guid:966b2a8f-a260-43ca-821b-7d4bdb7753d6/datastreams/ASSET1/content
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 417392
Handle: RePEc:unm:umaror:2010011