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Personality and income in Mexico: Supervisor assessments vs. self-assessments

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  • Palifka, Bonnie J.

Abstract

The effects of personality on earnings are still relatively unknown. Using a unique database, I examine the effects of eleven personality traits on compensation among college graduates in Mexico. With matched employee-supervisor surveys, I show that self-assessments and supervisor assessments of the same traits differ, and estimate the marginal effects of each on compensation. Consistent with previous studies on personality and earnings, regressions using self-assessments reveal Motivation traits to be the strongest predictors of compensation. Using supervisor assessments, however, I find that Openness to Experience has stronger impacts on compensation than does Motivation. The inclusion of supervisor assessments provides important information about how personality influences income directly, a unique feature of this essay.

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  • Palifka, Bonnie J., 2009. "Personality and income in Mexico: Supervisor assessments vs. self-assessments," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 92-106, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:30:y:2009:i:1:p:92-106
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    Cited by:

    1. Michal Brzezinski, 2017. "Childhood circumstances, personality traits and adult-life economic outcomes in developing countries: Evidence from STEP," IBS Working Papers 05/2017, Instytut Badan Strukturalnych.

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