Wim Groot

Job satisfaction of older workers

Using data for The Netherlands, this paper analyzes the relation between allocation, wages and job satisfaction. Five conclusions emerge from the empirical analysis: satisfaction with the job content is the main factor explaining overall job satisfaction; the effects of individual and job characteristics on job satisfaction differ by the aspect of the job considered; the response to a general question on job satisfaction differs from the response to questions on satisfaction with different aspects of the job; it is relevant to consider the joint relation between wages and job satisfaction; and skill mismatches do not seem to affect job satisfaction.

Overeducation in the labor market: A meta-analysis

Abstract This paper contains a meta-analysis of studies on overeducation and undereducation in the labor market. It is found that of the four different definitions of overeducation distinguished in the literature, only the one based on variation in years of education within occupational groups appears to yield significantly lower-than-average rates of overeducation. The average rate of undereducation in the labor market depends on the definition of the undereducation variable. There is no indication that mismatches between education supplied and education required for the job have increased significantly in the past 20 years. The labor force growth rate has a positive effect on the incidence of overeducation, while the unemployment rate has a negative effect on the rate of return to education.

Adaptation and scale of reference bias in self-assessments of quality of life

Adaptation behaviour and different scales of reference can bias self-assessments of well-being by individuals. In this paper, we analyse the impact of these biases on a subjective measure of the quality of health and on the QALY weights derived from this health measure. It is found that the scale of reference of the subjective health measure changes with age. Accounting for adaptation and scale of reference bias lowers most of the QALY weights for health problems and disabilities.

The incidence of, and returns to overeducation in the UK

The 1991 wave of the British Household Panel Survey is used to examine the extent of, and the returns to overeducation in the UK. About 11% of the workers are overeducated, while another 9% are undereducated for their job. The results show that the allocation of female workers is more efficient than the allocation of males. The probability of being overeducated decreases with work experience, but increases with tenure. Overeducated workers earn less, while undereducated workers earn more than correctly allocated workers. Both the hypothesis that productivity is fully embodied and the hypothesis that productivity is completely job determined are rejected by the data. It is found that there are substantial wage gains obtainable from a more efficient allocation of skills over jobs.

Education, training and employability.

Two hypotheses are tested: (1) education and training increase the employability of workers at other tasks within the firm and reduce the need for help from supervisors when workers encounter small problems, and (2) greater employability and problem solving capability increase wages. The empirical results show that greater employability and problem solving capability are independent from each other. Formal work-related training increases employability. Workers in jobs requiring no induction training are less employable at other jobs or departments. Both general and specific human capital increase the ability of workers to solve problems on their own. Greater employability does not increase wages. Male workers who solve problems on their own earn more than men who need help from others. The effects of human capital variables on employability and problem solving capability do not differ between and men and women. However, it is found that the ability to solve problems on ones own has a pay off for men but not for women.

Overeducation and the returns to enterprise-related schooling

Abstract This paper examines the relation between overeducation and enterprise-related schooling. If overeducation and enterprise-related schooling are substitutes the social costs of Overeducation are less. We find that correctly allocated workers have the highest probability of participation in enterprise-related schooling, while undereducated workers have the lowest probability of participation. There is no evidence of overeducation and enterprise-related schooling being either substitutes or complements. If we do not correct for self-selection, the average return on a year of education for correctly allocated workers is higher than the average rate of return to education for under- and overeducated workers. If we correct for self-selection in the participation in enterprise-related schooling the rate of return to education increases. The rates of return to under- and overeducation increase as well. If we correct for self-selection the rate of return to a year of undereducation becomes higher than the rate of return to a year of actual education. For undereducated workers the wage gain of participation in enterprise-related schooling is higher than for a correctly allocated worker. A year of Overeducation decreases the wage gain of participation in enterprise-related schooling for participants.

Empirical studies on informal patient payments for health care services: a systematic and critical review of research methods and instruments

BackgroundEmpirical evidence demonstrates that informal patient payments are an important feature of many health care systems. However, the study of these payments is a challenging task because of their potentially illegal and sensitive nature. The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review and analysis of key methodological difficulties in measuring informal patient payments.MethodsThe systematic review was based on the following eligibility criteria: English language publications that reported on empirical studies measuring informal patient payments. There were no limitations with regard to the year of publication. The content of the publications was analysed qualitatively and the results were organised in the form of tables. Data sources were Econlit, Econpapers, Medline, PubMed, ScienceDirect, SocINDEX.ResultsInformal payments for health care services are most often investigated in studies involving patients or the general public, but providers and officials are also sample units in some studies. The majority of the studies apply a single mode of data collection that involves either face-to-face interviews or group discussions.One of the main methodological difficulties reported in the publication concerns the inability of some respondents to distinguish between official and unofficial payments. Another complication is associated with the refusal of some respondents to answer questions on informal patient payments.We do not exclude the possibility that we have missed studies that reported in non-English language journals as well as very recent studies that are not yet published.ConclusionsGiven the recent evidence from research on survey methods, a self-administrated questionnaire during a face-to-face interview could be a suitable mode of collecting sensitive data, such as data on informal patient payments.

The health effects of education: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND There is an abundance of empirical evidence, mainly from the epidemiological and social science literature, on the relation between education and health. Until now a meta-analysis of the relation between education and health was not available. This article presents a meta-analysis of studies that use self- reported health as an outcome variable to quantify the effect of education on health. METHODS Meta-analysis using a random and a fixed-effects model to quantify the marginal effect of education on self-reported health. RESULTS The results of the meta-analysis show that the quality adjusted life years weight (QALYweight) of a year of education is approximately 0.036. Some tentative calculations suggest that the cost-benefit ratio of investments in education on health is highly positive. CONCLUSION For public policy this implies that a more integrated approach to education and health policies should be taken.

Diversity and dynamics of patient cost-sharing for physicians’ and hospital services in the 27 European Union countries

BACKGROUND During the past decades, many governments have introduced patient cost-sharing in their public health-care system. This trend in health-care reforms affected the European Union (EU) member states as well. This article presents a review of patient cost-sharing for health-care services in the 27 EU countries, and discusses directions for their improvement. METHODS Data are collected based on a review of international data bases, national laws and regulations, as well as scientific and policy reports. The analysis presents a combination of qualitative and quantitative research techniques. RESULTS Patient cost-sharing arrangements in the EU have been changing considerably over the past two decades (mostly being extended) and are quite diverse at present. There is a relation between patient cost-sharing arrangements and some characteristics of the health-care system in a country. In a few EU countries, a mix of formal and informal charges exists, which creates a double financial burden for health-care consumers. CONCLUSIONS The adequacy of patient cost-sharing arrangements in EU countries needs to be reconsidered. Most importantly, it is essential to deal with informal patient payments (where applicable) and to assure adequate exemption mechanisms to diminish the adverse equity effects of patient cost-sharing. A close communication with the public is needed to clarify the objectives and content of a patient payment policy in a country.

Glass ceilings or dead ends: job promotion of men and women compared

Alternative hypotheses that explain the differences in the rate at which male and female workers are promoted to higher job levels are empirically tested. It is found that women are less frequently in jobs that offer promotion possibilities than men. However, given that women are in jobs that offer promotion opportunities, they are not less likely to be promoted to another job within the firm. That women have jobs that offer promotion less frequently than men is due to differences in treatment rather than differences in characteristics.