Boss Competence and Worker Well-being

Arbeitspapier

Nearly all workers have a supervisor or 'boss'. Yet there is almost no published research by economists into how bosses affect the quality of employees' lives. This study offers some of the first formal evidence. First, it is shown that a boss's technical competence is the single strongest predictor of a worker's well-being. Second, we examine equivalent instrumental-variable results. Third, we demonstrate longitudinally that even if a worker stays in the same job and workplace then a newly competent supervisor greatly improves the worker's well-being. Finally, we discuss analytical possibilities, and consider necessary future research.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 8559

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; General Welfare; Well-Being ; Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy ; Personnel Economics: Labor Management
• Subject: bosses ; expert leaders ; leadership ; job satisfaction ; happiness

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Artz, Benjamin ; Goodall, Amanda H. ; Oswald, Andrew J.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2014

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/104676
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET