Satisfaction with Daily Activities after Retirement in Europe

23 Pages Posted: 20 Sep 2012

See all articles by Eric Bonsang

Eric Bonsang

ROA; Netspar

Arthur van Soest

Tilburg University; Netspar; RAND Corporation; Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

Date Written: August 1, 2012

Abstract

This paper analyses the determinants of satisfaction with daily activities among retirees aged 65 years or older in eleven European countries. We use data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe on self-assessed satisfaction with daily activities and anchoring vignettes to correct for potential differences in responses scales across countries and socio-demographic groups. On average, retired Europeans appear to be satisfied with their daily activities, but there are large differences across countries: respondents from Northern countries tend to be more satisfied than individuals from Central European or Mediterranean countries. Our analysis shows that correcting for response scale differentials alters the country ranking for satisfaction with daily activities but hardly affects the conclusions on the factors driving within country differences between socio-demographic groups.

Keywords: anchoring vignettes, response scale differences, ageing

JEL Classification: I30, J14

Suggested Citation

Bonsang, Eric and van Soest, Arthur H. O. and van Soest, Arthur H. O., Satisfaction with Daily Activities after Retirement in Europe (August 1, 2012). Netspar Discussion Paper No. 08/2012-032, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2149592 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2149592

Eric Bonsang

ROA ( email )

P.O. Box 616
Maastricht, MD6200
Netherlands

Netspar ( email )

P.O. Box 90153
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands

Arthur H. O. van Soest (Contact Author)

Netspar

P.O. Box 90153
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands

Tilburg University ( email )

P.O. Box 90153
Tilburg, DC Noord-Brabant 5000 LE
Netherlands

RAND Corporation ( email )

P.O. Box 2138
1776 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138
United States

Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

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