Johannes Martin

Determinants of Further Training: Evidence for Germany

We explore the relevance and development of further training in private sector firms using the German Socio-Economic Panel, which is a representative sample of German residents. We focus on formal training and explore possible individual and job-based determinants of its incidence. We also show changes over time during a 20-year observation period from 1989 to 2008. Most hypotheses are supported by the empirical evidence. Job status and firm size are the most relevant characteristics for training participation. Furthermore, our analyses reveal a general trend of rising training rates from 1989 to 2008, indicating an increased importance in the German labor market.

Does entrepreneurship pay for women and immigrants? A 30 year assessment of the socio-economic impact of entrepreneurial activity in Germany

Abstract Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel from 1984 to 2012, we explore income effects of self-employment for females and migrants. Controlling for the selection into self-employment, we differentiate the overall earnings differential between the self-employed and the wage-employed into an endowment effect (they are equipped with characteristics that positively affect earnings in either occupation) and a treatment effect (the income effect solely due to the decision for self-employment). We find that women exhibit both a lower treatment effect and a lower endowment effect than men. Migrants benefit much more from entrepreneurial activities than Germans, having a significantly higher treatment effect. Among the countries of origin, Turkish migrants benefit the most from their self-employment decision, while southern Europeans exhibit the lowest income relevant skills.

Monetary Reference Points of Managers – Empirical Evidence of Status Quo Preferences and Social Comparisons

We explore whether monetary reference points affect managers′ job satisfaction. These reference points include a manager′s own status quo and the incomes of comparable managers within the same firm and also at the market level. Making use of a unique panel data set of managers in the German chemical sector, we find that social comparisons of compensation do affect reported job satisfaction. Both the relative income position within a managers own firm and a managers wage rank on the market have positive relations with job satisfaction. There is no evidence of the relevance of status quo considerations once we control for firm-related pay variables.

Beschäftigungsstruktur und Zufriedenheit von Zeitarbeitnehmern in Deutschland

ZusammenfassungAuf Basis von Daten des Deutschen Sozio-Ökonomischen Panels der Jahre 2001 bis 2012 untersuchen wir Determinanten einer Zeitarbeitsbeschäftigung sowie möglicher Erklärungsansätze für Unterschiede in der Arbeits- und Lebenszufriedenheit zwischen Arbeitnehmern in Zeitarbeit im Vergleich zu Normalbeschäftigten und zu arbeitslosen Personen. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass frühere Zeiten von Arbeitslosigkeit die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Zeitarbeitsbeschäftigung deutlich steigern. Zudem führen Zeitarbeitnehmer eher Tätigkeiten aus, für die sie nicht passend qualifiziert sind. Die niedrigere Arbeitszufriedenheit von Zeitarbeitern im Vergleich zu Normalbeschäftigten lässt sich vor allem auf Unterschiede in individuellen Merkmalen und auf eine als deutlich stärker empfundene Arbeitsplatzunsicherheit zurückführen, während ihre Lebenszufriedenheit auch unter Berücksichtigung dieser Faktoren signifikant geringer ist. Jedoch äußern Zeitarbeitnehmer eine deutlich höhere Lebenszufriedenheit als arbeitslose Personen. Eine explizite Analyse der Übergänge zwischen den Beschäftigungsstatus bestätigt diese Ergebnisse.AbstractBased on data from the German Socio-Economic Panel of the years 2001–2012, we investigate determinants of temporary agency work. Moreover, we explore possible explanations for differences between temp and regular workers as well as unemployed people regarding their work and life satisfaction. Our results show that previous spells in unemployment considerably increase the likelihood of being in temporary agency work. Temp workers often have jobs for which they are not appropriately trained. Their lower score of job satisfaction can be mainly explained by differences in individual characteristics as well as by a higher perceived job insecurity. Their score of life satisfaction, though, remains significantly lower compared to regular employees even if it is controlled for these factors. However, life satisfaction of temp workers is considerably better than that of unemployed people.

The Impact on Earnings When Entering Self-Employment – Evidence for Germany

Using data of the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) earnings differentials between self-employed and wage-employed workers in the German labor market are explored. Previous research based on US data reports lower incomes for entrepreneurs. In contrast to that, the findings of this contribution suggest the opposite for German entrepreneurs. They have considerably higher earnings than wage-employed workers. Furthermore, there is a significant and positive effect on earnings when entering self-employment. This holds true when it is also taken into account that workers usually report a smaller firm size and work longer after beginning an entrepreneurial occupation.

Beschäftigungsstruktur Und Zufriedenheit Von Zeitarbeitnehmern in Deutschland (Employment Structure and Satisfaction of Temporary Agency Workers in Germany)

German Abstract: Auf Basis von Daten des Deutschen Sozio-Okonomischen Panels der Jahre 2001 bis 2012 untersuchen wir Determinanten einer Zeitarbeitsbeschaftigung sowie moglicher Erklarungsansatze fur Unterschiede in der Arbeits- und Lebenszufriedenheit zwischen Arbeitnehmern in Zeitarbeit im Vergleich zu Normalbeschaftigten und zu arbeitslosen Personen. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass fruhere Zeiten von Arbeitslosigkeit die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Zeitarbeitsbeschaftigung deutlich steigern. Zudem fuhren Zeitar-beitnehmer eher Tatigkeiten aus, fur die sie nicht passend qualifiziert sind. Die niedrigere Arbeitszufriedenheit von Zeitarbeitern im Vergleich zu Normalbeschaftigten lasst sich vor allem auf Unterschiede in individuellen Merkmalen und auf eine als deutlich starker empfundene Arbeitsplatzunsicherheit zuruckfuhren, wahrend ihre Lebenszufriedenheit auch unter Berucksichtigung dieser Faktoren signifikant geringer ist. Jedoch ausern Zeitarbeitnehmer eine deutlich hohere Lebenszufriedenheit als arbeitslose Personen. English Abstract: Based on data from the German Socio-Economic Panel of the years 2001-2012, we investigate determinants of temporary agency work. Moreover, we explore possible explanations for differences between temp and regular workers as well as unemployed people regarding their work and life satisfaction. Our results show that previous spells in unemployment considerably increase the likelihood of being in temporary agency work. Temp workers often have jobs for which they are not appropriately trained. Their lower score of job satisfaction can be mainly explained by differences in individual characteristics as well as by a higher perceived job insecurity. Their score of life satisfaction, though, remains significantly lower compared to regular employees even if it is controlled for these factors. However, life satisfaction of temp workers is considerably better than that of unemployed people.