Identities, Conflicting Behavioural Norms and the Importance of Job Attributes

Giovanni Russo () and Edwin van Hooft ()
Additional contact information
Giovanni Russo: European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)
Edwin van Hooft: Erasmus University Rotterdam

No 4412, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: The paper empirically expounds the richness of the identity approach to labor market behavior by allowing individuals to experience identity conflict. Specifically, it investigates the relationship between the importance individuals attach to labor-market activities – which is influenced by the identity to which they adhere – and their preferences for job attributes. The analysis shows that individuals who consider labor-market success as instrumental for achieving their life goals tend to attach importance to job characteristics such as pay level and career and training opportunities. Individuals for whom non-labor market activities are important and in conflict with labor market activities are found to attach importance to the possibility of working on a convenient time schedule. Moreover, consistently with the identity approach to labor-market behavior, men appear to resolve the conflict between career and non-work activities in favor of the former. Finally, unobserved factors that increase the desire to work part-time have a negative impact on the likelihood of attaching importance to training and career opportunities offered by the job.

Keywords: role conflict; social identity; job attributes; part-time (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J22 J24 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 40 pages
Date: 2009-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Published - published in: Journal of Economic Psychology, 2011, 32 (1), 103-119

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