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Job Satisfaction and Co-worker Wages: Status or Signal?

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Author Info
AndrewE. Clark
Nicolai Kristensen
Niels Westergård-Nielsen

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Abstract

We use matched employer-employee panel data to show that individual job satisfaction is higher when other workers in the same establishment are better-paid. This runs counter to substantial existing evidence of income comparisons in subjective well-being. We argue that the difference hinges on the nature of the reference group. Here we use co-workers. Their earnings not only induce jealousy but also provide a signal about the worker's own future earnings. In our data, this positive future earnings signal outweighs any negative status effect. This phenomenon is stronger for men and in the private sector but weaker for those nearer retirement. Copyright © The Author(s). Journal compilation © Royal Economic Society 2009.

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File URL: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-0297.2008.02236.x
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Publisher Info
Article provided by Royal Economic Society in its journal The Economic Journal.

Volume (Year): 119 (2009)
Issue (Month): 536 (03)
Pages: 430-447
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Handle: RePEc:ecj:econjl:v:119:y:2009:i:536:p:430-447

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  1. Andrew E. Clark, 2008. "Happiness, habits and high rank: Comparisons in economic and social life," PSE Working Papers 2008-61, PSE (Ecole normale supérieure). [Downloadable!]
  2. Andrew E. Clark & Claudia Senik, 2007. "La croissance rend-elle heureux ? La réponse des données subjectives," PSE Working Papers 2007-06, PSE (Ecole normale supérieure). [Downloadable!]
  3. Andrew Clark & Andreas Knabe & Steffen Rätzel, 2008. "Boon or Bane?: Others' Unemployment, Well-Being and Job Insecurity," SOEPpapers 153, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). [Downloadable!]
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  4. Böckerman, Petri & Ilmakunnas, Pekka & Johansson , Edvard, 2009. "Creative destruction and employee well-being," MPRA Paper 15447, University Library of Munich, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  5. Andrew E. Clark & Claudia Senik, 2008. "Who compares to whom? The anatomy of income comparisons in Europe," PSE Working Papers 2008-65, PSE (Ecole normale supérieure), revised Sep 2009. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  6. Yamamura, Eiji, 2009. "Trial experience, satisfaction and incentive to bring another lawsuit: Does aspiration level influence winners and losers?," MPRA Paper 16149, University Library of Munich, Germany. [Downloadable!]
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This page was last updated on 2009-10-15.

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