Acta Oeconomica
Volume/Issue:
Volume 65: Issue 2
Determinants of job quality — Evidence for European country groups
Authors:
Nádia Simões
Search for other papers by Nádia Simões in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Nuno Crespo Instituto Universitário de Pisboa (ISCTE — IUL), Lisboa, Portugal

Search for other papers by Nuno Crespo in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
José Castro Pinto Instituto Universitário de Pisboa (ISCTE — IUL), Pisboa, Portugal

Search for other papers by José Castro Pinto in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Pages:
299–323
Online Publication Date:
Jun 2015
Publication Date:
01 Jun 2015
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/032.65.2015.2.6
Keywords:
job quality; Europe; determinant factors; twice-censored Tobit model; cluster analysis; C51; J01; J21; J81; J88
Restricted access

Based on a micro-level approach and using data from the European Working Conditions Survey, covering 27 countries, we analyse the determinants of job quality. With cluster analysis applied to 11 dimensional indices, we form three homogeneous country groups and identify, by estimating twice-censored Tobit models, the main determinant factors affecting the individual level of job quality in each group. We verify the relevance of variables related to worker characteristics, firm characteristics, and the country in which the individual works. Among worker characteristics, education and employment status are the factors with the highest impact on job quality, while the economic sector is the most important firm characteristic. The results suggest the existence of important differences among groups regarding the magnitude of the impact of some factors. The highest dissimilarities are found between the group with better jobs (Nordic countries plus Belgium) and the group with lower quality jobs (Central and Eastern European countries plus Portugal and Greece). Variables related to age, education, dimension of the firm, and economic sector are those in which more heterogeneity is found among the groups.

  • Altonji, J. — Blank, R. (1999): Race and Gender in the Labor Market. In: Ashenfelter, O. — Card, D. (eds): Handbook of Labor Economics. Vol. 3 C. Amsterdam: North-Holland, pp. 3143–3259.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Amossé, T. — Kalugina, E. (2010): Work Quality Indicators and Job Dynamics: Is there a Trade-off? A Micro-Econometric Analysis on 10 European Countries. Working Paper, for XXVIII Journées de Microéconomie Appliquée (Suisse).

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Arpaia, A. — Mourre, G. (2012): Institutions and Performance in European Labour Markets: Taking a Fresh Look at Evidence. Journal of Economic Surveys, 26(1): 1–41.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Avirgan, T. — Bivens, J. — Gammage, S. (eds) (2005): Good Jobs, Bad Jobs, No Jobs: Labor Markets and Informal Work in Egypt, El Salvador, India, Russia, and South Africa. Global Policy Network, Economic Policy Institute, Washington.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Benz, M. — Frey, B. (2008a): Being Independent is a Great Thing: Subjective Evaluations of Self-Employment and Hierarchy. Economica, 75(298): 362–383.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Benz, M. — Frey, B. (2008b): The Value of Doing What You Like: Evidence from the Self-Employed in 23 Countries. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 68(3–4): 445–455.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Brown, A. — Charlwood, A. — Forde, C. — Spencer, D. (2007): Job Quality and the Economics of New Labour: A Critical Appraisal Using Subjective Data. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 31(6): 941–971.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Brown, S. — Sessions, J. (2003): Earnings, Education, and Fixed-Term Contracts. Scottish Journal of Political Economy, 50(4): 492–506.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bustillo, R. — Férnandez-Macías, E. — Antón, J.I. — Esteve, F. (2009): Indicators of Job Quality in the European Union. Directorate-General for Internal Policies, European Commission.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Card, D. (1999): The Causal Effect of Education on Earnings. In: Ashenfelter, O. — Card, D. (eds): Handbook of Labor Economics, Vol. 3 A. Amsterdam: North-Holland, pp. 1801–1863.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Chiswick, B. (1978): The Effect of Americanization on the Earnings of Foreign-Born Men. Journal of Political Economy, 86(5): 897–921.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Clark, A. (2001): What Really Matters in a Job? Hedonic Measurement Using Quit Data. Labour Economics, 8(2): 223–242.

  • Clark, A. (2005): Your Money or Your Life: Changing Job Quality in OECD Countries. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 43(3): 377–400.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • D’Amuri, F. — Peri, G. (2010): Immigration and Occupations in Europe. Centro Studi Luca d’Agliano, Development Studies, Working Papers, No. 302, Milan.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Davoine, L. (2006): Are Quantity and Quality of Jobs Correlated? Using, Interpreting and Discussing the Laeken Indicators. Centre D’Études de L’Emploi, Working Paper, No. 59, Noisy-le-Grand.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Davoine, L. — Erhel, C. — Guergoat-Lariviere, M. (2008): A Taxonomy of European Labour Markets Using Quality Indicators. Centre d’Études de l’Emploi, Research Report, No. 45, Noisy-le-Grand.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Demoussis, M. — Giannakopoulos, N. (2007): Exploring Job Satisfaction in Private and Public Employment: Empirical Evidence from Greece. Labour, 21(2): 333–359.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Diaz-Serrano, L. — Vieira, J. (2005): Low Pay, Higher Pay and Job Satisfaction within the European Union: Empirical Evidence from Fourteen Countries. Institute for the Study of Labour (IZA), Discussion Paper, No. 1558. Bonn.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Dohmen, T. — Falk, A. (2011): Performance Pay and Multidimensional Sorting: Productivity, Preferences, and Gender. American Economic Review, 101(2): 556–590.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Eurofound (2002): Quality of Work and Employment in Europe: Issues and Challenges. Dublin.

  • Eurofound (2007): Occupational Mobility in Europe. Dublin.

  • Fabra, M. — Camisón, C. (2009): Direct and Indirect Effects of Education on Job Satisfaction: A Structural Equation Model for the Spanish Case. Economics of Education Review, 28(5): 600–610.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gallie, D. (2003): The Quality of Working Life: Is Scandinavia Different? European Sociological Review, 19(1): 61–79.

  • Gannon, B. — Plasman, R. — Rycx, F. — Tojerow, I. (2007): Inter-Industry Wage Differentials and the Gender Wage Gap: Evidence from European Countries. Economic and Social Review, 38(1): 135–155.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ghai, D. (2003): Decent Work: Concept and Indicators. International Labour Review, 142(2): 113–145.

  • Ghinetti, P. (2007): The Public-Private Job Satisfaction Differential in Italy. Labour, 21(2): 361–388.

  • Green, F. (2006): Demanding Work: The Paradox of Job Quality in the Affluent Economy. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

  • Gregory, R. — Borland, J. (1999): Recent Developments in Public Sector Labor Markets. In: Ashenfelter, O. — Card D. (eds): Handbook of Labor Economics, Vol. 3C. Amsterdam: North-Holland, 3573–3630.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hair, J.F. — Anderson, R.E. — Tatham, R.L. — Black, W.C. (1998): Multivariate Data Analysis. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.

  • Hammermesh, D.S. (2001): The Changing Distribution of Job Satisfaction. Journal of Human Resources, 36(1): 1–30.

  • Handel, M.J. (2005): Trends in Perceived Job Quality. Work and Occupations, 32(1): 66–94.

  • Hartikainen, A. — Anttila, T. — Oinas, T. — Nätti, J. (2010): Is Finland Different? Quality of Work among Finnish and European Employees. Research on Finnish Society, 3: 29–41.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • ILO (1999): Decent Work. Geneva.

  • Kalleberg, A.L. — Reskin, B.F. — Hudson, K. (2000): Bad Jobs in America: Standard and Nonstandard Employment Relations and Job Quality in the United States. American Sociological Review, 65(2): 256–278.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kalleberg, A.L. — Vaisey, S. (2005): Pathways to a Good Job: Perceived Work Quality among the Machinists in North America. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 43(3): 431–454.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Leschke, J. — Watt, A. — Finn, M. (2008): Putting a Number on Job Quality? Constructing a European Job Quality Index. Working Paper, No. 2008.03, European Trade Union Institute, Brussels.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mojsoska-Blazevski, N. — Petreski, M. — Krliu-Handkiski, V. (2015): Does Cultural Heritage Affect Job Satisfaction? The East-West Divide. Acta Oeconomica, 65(2): 325–337.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mühlau, P. (2011): Gender Inequality and Job Quality in Europe. Management Revue, 22(2): 114–131.

  • Mumford, K. — Smith, P. (2004): Job Tenure in Britain: Employee Characteristics versus Workplace Effects. Economica, 71(282): 275–297.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Niederle, M. — Vesterlund, L. (2007): Do Women Shy away from Competition? Do Men Compete Too Much? The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 122(3): 1067–1101.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • OECD (2003): OECD Employment Outlook 2003. Towards More and Better Jobs. Paris.

  • Rose, M. (2003): Good Deal, Bad Deal? Job Satisfaction in Occupations. Work, Employment and Society, 17(3): 503–530.

  • Smith, M. — Burchell, B. — Fagan, C. — O’Brien, C. (2008): Job Quality in Europe. Industrial Relations Journal, 39(6): 586–603.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Tangian, A. (2005): A Composite Indicator of Working Conditions in the EU-15 for Policy Monitoring and Analytical Purposes. Discussion Paper, No. 135, Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliches Institut, Düsseldorf.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Collapse
  • Expand
Cover Acta Oeconomica
Acta Oeconomica Periodical of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Print ISSN:
0001-6373
Online ISSN:
1588-2659

Senior editors

Editors-in-Chief: István P. Székely, Dóra Győrffy

Editor(s): Judit Ványai

Associate Editors

  • Péter Benczúr, Joint Joint Research Center, European Commission
  • Dóra Benedek, International Monetary Fund
  • Balázs Égert, OECD
  • Dániel Prinz, World Bank
  • Rok Spruk, University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business, Slovenia

Editorial Board

  • Anders Åslund, Georgetown University and Advisory Council of CASE, USA
  • István Benczes, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary 
  • Agnieszka Chłoń-Domińczak, SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Poland
  • Fabrizio Coricelli, University of Siena, Italy
  • László Csaba, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary and Central European University, Austria
  • Beáta Farkas, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Szeged, Hungary
  • Péter Halmai, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and National University of Public Service, Hungary
  • Martin Kahanec, Central European University, Austria
  • Michael Landesmann, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (WIIW), Austria
  • Péter Mihályi, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary
  • Debora Revoltella, European Investment Bank

Corvinus University of Budapest
Department of Economics
Fővám tér 8 Budapest, H-1093, Hungary
E-mail: vanyai.judit@krtk.hu  

Indexing and Abstracting Services:

  • CABELLS Journalytics
  • EconLit
  • Elsevier GEO Abstracts
  • GEOBASE
  • Index Copernicus
  • International Bibliographies IBZ and IBR
  • JEL
  • Referativnyi Zhurnal
  • RePEc
  • SCOPUS
  • Social Science Citation Index

 

2023  
Web of Science  
Journal Impact Factor 0.7
Rank by Impact Factor Q3 (Economics)
Journal Citation Indicator 0.23
Scopus  
CiteScore 1.4
CiteScore rank Q3 (Economics and Econometrics)
SNIP 0.385
Scimago  
SJR index 0.218
SJR Q rank Q4

Acta Oeconomica
Publication Model Hybrid
Submission Fee none
Article Processing Charge 900 EUR/article
Printed Color Illustrations 40 EUR (or 10 000 HUF) + VAT / piece
Regional discounts on country of the funding agency World Bank Lower-middle-income economies: 50%
World Bank Low-income economies: 100%
Further Discounts Editorial Board / Advisory Board members: 50%
Corresponding authors, affiliated to an EISZ member institution subscribing to the journal package of Akadémiai Kiadó: 100%
Subscription fee 2025 Online subsscription: 700 EUR / 768 USD
Print + online subscription: 820 EUR / 900 USD
Subscription Information Online subscribers are entitled access to all back issues published by Akadémiai Kiadó for each title for the duration of the subscription, as well as Online First content for the subscribed content.
Purchase per Title Individual articles are sold on the displayed price.

Acta Oeconomica
Language English
Size B5
Year of
Foundation		 1966
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 4
Founder Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
Founder's
Address		 H-1051 Budapest, Hungary, Széchenyi István tér 9.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 0001-6373 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2659 (Online)

Monthly Content Usage

Abstract Views Full Text Views PDF Downloads
Apr 2024 34 1 1
May 2024 24 0 0
Jun 2024 22 0 0
Jul 2024 45 0 0
Aug 2024 46 0 0
Sep 2024 40 0 0
Oct 2024 42 0 0