Publication type
ISER Working Paper Series
Series Number
2008-39
Series
ISER Working Paper Series
Authors
Publication date
November 1, 2008
Abstract:
Surveys differ in the way they measure satisfaction and happiness, so comparative research findings are vulnerable to distortion by survey design differences. We examine this using the British Household Panel Survey, exploiting its changes in question design and parallel use of different interview modes. We find significant biases in econometric results, particularly for gender differences in attitudes to the wage and hours of work. Results suggest that the common empirical finding that women care less than men about their wage and more about their hours may be an artifact of survey design rather than a real behavioural difference.
Subjects
Notes
working paper
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