Conspicuous Work: Peer Working Time, Labour Supply and Happiness for Male Workers

42 Pages Posted: 4 May 2015

See all articles by Marion Collewet

Marion Collewet

Maastricht University

Andries de Grip

Maastricht School of Business and Economics; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Jaap De Koning

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)

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

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

Marion Collewet (Contact Author)

Maastricht University ( email )

P.O. Box 616
Maastricht, Limburg 6200MD
Netherlands

Andries De Grip

Maastricht School of Business and Economics ( email )

P. O. Box 616
Maastricht, NL 6200 MD
Netherlands

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Jaap De Koning

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)

Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
3000 DR Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland 3062PA
Netherlands

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