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Should We Blame The Graduates For Their Unemployment? A Happiness Approach

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  • LIM, HOCK-EAM
  • DUAN, HONGBO

Abstract

This paper estimates change of happiness of Malaysian graduates who are in the stage of transition from university to labour market and tests the voluntary unemployment hypothesis using a happiness approach. It is found that a substantial deterioration in the graduate's happiness occurs during the transition. The change in happiness of unemployed graduates are not differ significantly from graduates who are self-employed, part-time or full-time employed with employment that does not commensurate with qualification. Thus, we could not reject the voluntary unemployment hypothesis and the graduates could be partially blamed for their unemployment.

Suggested Citation

  • Lim, Hock-Eam & Duan, Hongbo, 2015. "Should We Blame The Graduates For Their Unemployment? A Happiness Approach," Hitotsubashi Journal of Economics, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 56(2), pages 243-258, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:hit:hitjec:v:56:y:2015:i:2:p:243-258
    DOI: 10.15057/27602
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alfred Michael Dockery, 2005. "The Happiness of Young Australians: Empirical Evidence on the Role of Labour Market Experience," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 81(255), pages 322-335, December.
    2. Blanchflower, David G. & Oswald, Andrew J., 2004. "Well-being over time in Britain and the USA," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(7-8), pages 1359-1386, July.
    3. Cheah, Yong Kang & Tang, Chor Foon, 2013. "The Socio-Demographic Determinants Of Self-Rated Happiness: The Case Of Penang, Malaysia," Hitotsubashi Journal of Economics, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 54(1), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Hock‐Eam Lim & Judith Rich & Mark N. Harris, 2008. "Employment Outcomes of Graduates: The Case of Universiti Utara, Malaysia," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 22(3), pages 321-341, September.
    5. Robert Cummins & Helen Nistico, 2002. "Maintaining Life Satisfaction: The Role of Positive Cognitive Bias," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 37-69, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    voluntary unemployment; graduate unemployment; change in happiness; psychological impact of unemployment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A23 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Graduate
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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