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An Investigation Into the Stability of the Big-Five in Germany

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  • Schäfer, Konrad C.

Abstract

This paper investigates the stability of the Big-Five personality traits based on the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) from 2005, 2009, and 2013. The results indicate that the population means only show little variance over the eight year time frame. There is no link between age and mean-levels, and only minor changes of the mean-levels of the Big-Five over time for the working age population (25-64 years of age) in Germany. However, there are intra-individual changes which can partly be explained by adverse life events. They impact the Big-Five traits and thereby contradict the general finding of stability of the traits in the literature. Exploratory fixed effects wage estimations that exploit the intra-individual changes in the Big-Five find no significant effects for men but positive effects of agreeableness and conscientiousness on women's wages.

Suggested Citation

  • Schäfer, Konrad C., 2017. "An Investigation Into the Stability of the Big-Five in Germany," Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) dp-600, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät.
    • Handle: RePEc:han:dpaper:dp-600
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    File URL: http://diskussionspapiere.wiwi.uni-hannover.de/pdf_bib/dp-600.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cobb-Clark, Deborah A. & Schurer, Stefanie, 2012. "The stability of big-five personality traits," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 115(1), pages 11-15.
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    3. Gert G. Wagner & Joachim R. Frick & Jürgen Schupp, 2007. "The German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) – Scope, Evolution and Enhancements," Schmollers Jahrbuch : Journal of Applied Social Science Studies / Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 127(1), pages 139-169.
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    5. Francis Collins, 2010. "Has the revolution arrived?," Nature, Nature, vol. 464(7289), pages 674-675, April.
    6. Jule Specht & Boris Egloff & Stefan C. Schmukle, 2011. "Stability and Change of Personality across the Life Course: The Impact of Age and Major Life Events on Mean-Level and Rank-Order Stability of the Big Five," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 377, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Non-cognitive skills; Big-Five; personality traits; wages;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C18 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Methodolical Issues: General
    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs

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