Arbeitspapier

Intrinsic work motivation and pension reform acceptance

Although demographic change leaves pay-as-you-go pension systems unsustainable, reforms, such as a higher pension age, are highly unpopular. This contribution looks into the role of intrinsic motivation as a driver for pension reform acceptance. Theoretical reasoning suggests that this driver should be relevant: The choice among different pension reform options (increasing pension age, increasing contributions, cutting pensions) can be analyzed within the framework of an optimal job separation decision. In this optimization, intrinsic job satisfaction matters as it decreases the subjective costs of a higher pension age. We test this key hypothesis on the basis of the German General Social Survey (ALLBUS). The results are unambiguous: In addition to factors such as age or education, the inclusion of intrinsic work motivation helps to improve our prediction of an individual's reform orientation. Our results are of importance for reform acceptance beyond the specific topic of pension reform. They point to the fact that the support for welfare state reform is also decided at the workplace.

Language
Englisch

Bibliographic citation
Series: ZEW Discussion Papers ; No. 11-045

Classification
Wirtschaft
Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation
Social Security and Public Pensions
Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents: Household
Subject
Pension system
reforms
pension age
ALLBUS
Gesetzliche Rentenversicherung
Rentenreform
Altersgrenze
Meinung
Leistungsmotivation
Arbeitsethik
Deutschland

Event
Geistige Schöpfung
(who)
Heinemann, Friedrich
Hennighausen, Tanja
Moessinger, Marc-Daniel
Event
Veröffentlichung
(who)
Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung (ZEW)
(where)
Mannheim
(when)
2011

Handle
URN
urn:nbn:de:bsz:180-madoc-31997
Last update
10.03.2025, 11:41 AM CET

Data provider

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Object type

  • Arbeitspapier

Associated

  • Heinemann, Friedrich
  • Hennighausen, Tanja
  • Moessinger, Marc-Daniel
  • Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung (ZEW)

Time of origin

  • 2011

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