Working Time Preferences, Hours Mismatch and Well-Being of Couples: Are There Spillovers?

Christoph Wunder (christoph.wunder@wiwi.uni-halle.de) and Guido Heineck
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Christoph Wunder: Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg

No 6786, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We analyze how well-being is related to working time preferences and hours mismatch. Self-reported measures of life satisfaction are used as an empirical approximation of true wellbeing. Our results indicate that well-being is generally lower among workers with working time mismatch. Particularly underemployment is detrimental for well-being. We further provide first evidence on spillovers from the partner's working time mismatch. However, the spillover becomes insignificant once we control for the partner's well-being. This suggests that well-being is contagious, and the spillover is due to interdependent utilities. Females experience the highest well-being when their partner is working full-time hours. Male wellbeing is unaffected over a wide interval of the partner's working hours.

Keywords: spillovers; subjective well-being; life satisfaction; working time preferences; working time mismatch; utility interdependence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I31 J21 J22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 42 pages
Date: 2012-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ltv
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

Published - revised version published in: Labour Economics, 2013, 24, 244-252.

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Related works:
Journal Article: Working time preferences, hours mismatch and well-being of couples: Are there spillovers? (2013)
Working Paper: Working Time Preferences, Hours Mismatch and Well-Being of Couples: Are There Spillovers? (2012)
Working Paper: Working time preferences, hours mismatch and well-being of couples: Are there spillovers? (2012)
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