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Working for Nothing: Personality and Time Allocation in the UK

Author

Listed:
  • Della Giusta, Marina

    (University of Turin)

  • Jewell, Sarah

    (University of Reading)

Abstract

We contribute to the literature on the effects of personality traits on labour market outcomes focusing on time mismanagement as an underlying mechanism. We document differences in time allocation to the labour market by different personality types in the UK and show how they may account for some of the labour market disadvantage experienced by more neurotic types (and the advantage experienced by more conscientious types) focussing in particular on unpaid overtime. We make use of the first ten waves of the Understanding Society Survey and show that particular personality types are more prone to working longer hours and experiencing time pressures. Whilst the effect of most personality traits is consistent with a rational theory of time allocation, we also find that neuroticism is instead associated with inconsistent behaviour (working fewer paid and more unpaid hours) and discuss implications for both labour market discrimination and labour supply theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Della Giusta, Marina & Jewell, Sarah, 2021. "Working for Nothing: Personality and Time Allocation in the UK," IZA Discussion Papers 14971, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14971
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    labour supply; overtime; time; time allocation; personality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics

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