Happiness of economists

Arbeitspapier

This study investigates the determinants of economists' life satisfaction. The analysis is based on a survey of professional, mostly academic economists from European countries and beyond. We find that certain features of economists' professional situation influence their well-being. Happiness is increased by having more research time while the lack of a tenured position decreases satisfaction in particular if the contract expires in the near future or cannot be extended. Surprisingly, publication success has no effect on satisfaction. While the perceived level of external pressure also has no impact, the perceived change of pressure in recent years has. Economists may have accepted a high level of pressure when entering academia but do not seem to be willing to cope with the increase observed in recent years.

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• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: CREMA Working Paper ; No. 2014-16

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; General Welfare; Well-Being ; Role of Economics; Role of Economists; Market for Economists ; Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy
• Subject: Happiness ; academiclabormarket ; extrinsicandintrinsicmotivation ; publish or perish-culture

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Feld, Lars P. ; Necker, Sarah ; Frey, Bruno S.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA)
• (where): Zürich
• (when): 2014

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/214562