Heaven knows I’m miserable now: overeducation and reduced life satisfaction

Publication type

Journal Article

Author

Publication date

January 2, 2014

Summary:

Recently the supply of young graduates entering the UK labour market has undergone a sharp increase. A possible consequence of this is an increase in the number of individuals who are overeducated for the jobs that they do subsequent to participating in higher education. Using British panel data and dynamic panel analysis, I demonstrate that overeducation amongst the young has increased, and that the overeducated are less satisfied with life than their peers who are not overeducated. This result appears to fade over time, with more recently overeducated individuals being both more common and less dissatisfied with life, consistent with the notion that relative effects and comparisons are important for life satisfaction.

Published in

Education Economics

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09645292.2013.870981

ISSN

9645292

Subjects

Notes

Online Early

Not held in Research Library - bibliographic reference only

Online in Albert Sloman Library, except current 12 months

#522430

News

Latest findings, new research

Publications search

Search all research by subject and author

Podcasts

Researchers discuss their findings and what they mean for society

Projects

Background and context, methods and data, aims and outputs

Events

Conferences, seminars and workshops

Survey methodology

Specialist research, practice and study

Taking the long view

ISER's annual report

Themes

Key research themes and areas of interest