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Personality characteristics and long-term labor market outcomes: Evidence from twins

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  • Terhi Maczulskij
  • Jutta Viinikainen

Abstract

We use twin data matched to register-based individual information on earnings and employment to examine the association between personality and long-term labor market success. The average of an individual’s earnings and employment were measured in adulthood over the 1990-2009 period. In contrast to previous studies, we use the within-twin dimension of the data to control for unobservable shared family background and genetic confounding factors. Our results suggest that these unobserved factors partly explain the well-documented relation between personality and labor market success. However, we find that achievement (a facet of conscientiousness) is related to higher earnings in the labor market.

Suggested Citation

  • Terhi Maczulskij & Jutta Viinikainen, 2015. "Personality characteristics and long-term labor market outcomes: Evidence from twins," Working Papers 299, Työn ja talouden tutkimus LABORE, The Labour Institute for Economic Research LABORE.
    • Handle: RePEc:pst:wpaper:299
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    personality; earnings; employment; unobserved heterogeneity; twin studies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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