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Is There a Happiness Premium for Working in the Public Sector? Evidence from Italy

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  • Alessandro Bucciol

    (Department of Economics (University of Verona))

  • Giovanni Burro

    (Bocconi University)

Abstract

Is there a happiness premium for working in the public sector? We explore this question using a large sample of Italian employees from 2004 to 2016. We find that happiness increases with economic status. Public employees enjoy a happiness premium compared to private employees, but only if they are of low economic status. Depending on the definition of economic status, their happiness gain is able to compensate half or all the gap these individuals face with respect to private employees of medium economic status. Our findings add to the relatively scant empirical literature on psychological well-being and public employment.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandro Bucciol & Giovanni Burro, 2021. "Is There a Happiness Premium for Working in the Public Sector? Evidence from Italy," Working Papers 05/2021, University of Verona, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ver:wpaper:05/2021
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Happiness; Public employment; Economic status; Wellbeing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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