Conspicuous Work: Peer Working Time, Labour Supply and Happiness for Male Workers
42 Pages Posted: 4 May 2015
Abstract
This paper uncovers 'conspicuous work' as a new form of status seeking that can explain social interactions in labour supply. We analyse how peer working time relates to both labour supply and happiness for Dutch male workers. Using a unique measure of peer weekly working time, we find that men's working time increases with that of their peers and that peer working time is negatively related to men's happiness. These findings are consistent with a 'conspicuous work' model, in which individuals derive status from working time.
Keywords: well-being, social norms, working hours
JEL Classification: J22, I31, D62
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Collewet, Marion and de Grip, Andries and De Koning, Jaap, Conspicuous Work: Peer Working Time, Labour Supply and Happiness for Male Workers. IZA Discussion Paper No. 9011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2601697 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2601697
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