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Unemployment and Identity

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  • Ronnie Schöb

Abstract

This paper employs social identity and self-categorization theories as a useful heuristic framework through which to learn more about the nature of the misery experienced by the unemployed; in economic terms, the individual cost of unemployment. Utilizing this framework, the paper provides different empirical identification strategies in order to disentangle the various means through which unemployment alters both the well-being and utility of an individual and shows, by reviewing some of the recent research in which I have participated, that unemployment primarily threatens an individual’s identity rather than reducing the instantaneous utility derived from day-to-day experiences.

Suggested Citation

  • Ronnie Schöb, 2012. "Unemployment and Identity," CESifo Working Paper Series 3991, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_3991
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Michele Battisti & Gabriel Felbermayr & Giovanni Peri & Panu Poutvaara, 2018. "Immigration, Search and Redistribution: A Quantitative Assessment of Native Welfare," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 16(4), pages 1137-1188.
    2. Alan Piper & Ian Jackson, 2017. "She’s leaving home: a large sample investigation of the empty nest syndrome," Danish-German Working Papers 006, Europa-Universität Flensburg, International Institute of Management (IIM);University of Southern Denmark, Department of Border Region Studies (IFG).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    involuntary unemployment; identity; affective well-being; cognitive well-being;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J60 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - General

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