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Bei der Gestaltung der Sozialpolitik spielen Expertenmeinungen die wichtigste Rolle. Langfristig angelegte Reformen wie die der Alterssicherung können aber nur dann erfolgreich sein, wenn sie von den Bürgern akzeptiert werden. Deshalb sollten die Wünsche der Bürger bei der Gestaltung der Sozialpolitik stärker als bisher berücksichtigt werden. Auf Grundlage der Daten des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP) werden in diesem Bericht Meinungen der Bevölkerung zur Alterssicherung analysiert. Dabei zeigt sich, dass die Zufriedenheit der jüngeren Generation im Laufe der letzten zehn Jahre deutlich gesunken ist. Allerdings wird der staatlich organisierten Alterssicherung immer noch ein hohes Vertrauen entgegengebracht, und staatliche Zuschüsse zu einer privaten Altersvorsorge erreichen ihr Ziel nur bedingt. Sie kommen vor allem denen zugute, die auch ohne staatliche Anreize zusätzliche Vorsorge betreiben. Ein nicht unerheblicher Teil der Bevölkerung fühlt sich dazu gar nicht in der Lage und kann deshalb nicht von den Zuschüssen profitieren.

"With the longitudinal data from the SOEP this paper examines how 'marginal' part-time workers have responded to the liability to social security payments for such employment relationships, which was introduced in April 1999. As solely 'marginal' part-time workers and those with 'marginal' part-time second jobs are affected by the new regulations in very different ways, separate empirical analyses are carried out. The dynamics of 'marginal' part-time employment and second jobs are compared with a pseudo-contrafactual situation in order to be able to analyse the influences of the reform which go beyond the 'natural' changes. Furthermore, econometric methods are used to examine what determinants influence a worker's remaining in or leaving 'marginal' part-time employment or a 'marginal' part-time second job. The results show that a change has occurred in the structure of 'marginal' part-time employment: people with 'marginal' part-time second jobs are tending to be substituted by workers whose sole job is 'marginal' part-time. The change in structure can be explained from both the supply-side and the demand-side. The aim of including income from 'marginal' part-time employment to finance the social insurance systems has certainly been approached. However, it remains doubtful whether the workers, and especially the married women, will build up any considerable entitlements of their own particularly in the statutory pension scheme. Their incentives for changing to part-time or full-time employment have been reduced even further by the reform." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

"One common feature of all empirical wage curve studies is the underlying assumption that the unemployment rate is the natural indicator of labour market tightness. However, we observe that in many European countries governments spend remarkable amounts on active labour market policies, such as labour market training programs. As training programs maintain the search effectiveness of the unemployed and enhance their skills, we incorporate these measures into the standard wage curve approach. Our empirical work reveals an extended wage curve in east Germany. If the influence of training is neglected, the estimates display no significant relationship between regional wages and labour market tightness." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

"The standard approach used in estimating wage curves is an individual wage function which is augmented by the inclusion of regional unemployment rates. The different aggregation level results in the standard error of the unemployment rate being underestimated and the accuracy of the 'wage curve' being exaggerated. For this reason,in this paper wage curves are estimated on the basis of regional panel data, in which the aggregation problem does not occur. Hardly any empirical evidence is found for a wage curve in western Germany. In contrast, long-term unemployment, which is additionally taken included in the estimation, has a clearly negative influence on the regional wage level." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

"Die Studie untersucht Migrationen von Ost- nach Westdeutschland. Mit einem sequentiellen Entscheidungsmodell wird zum einen geprüft, welche Personen die Absicht äußern, von Ost- nach Westdeutschland umziehen zu wollen. Simultan und unter Kontrolle unbeobachteter Heterogenität wird sodann ermittelt, welche umzugswilligen Personen ihre Absicht später tatsächlich umsetzen. Die Arbeit basiert auf Daten des Sozio-ökonomischen Panels der Jahre 1990 bis 1993. Mehr als ein Drittel der im Jahre 1991 befragten Ostdeutschen konnte sich einen Umzug nach Westdeutschland vorstellen. Von den umzugswilligen Personen realisierten im darauffolgenden Zwei-Jahres-Zeitraum rund 5% einen Umzug. Umzüge ohne vorhergehende Absichtserklärung sind praktisch nicht zu beobachten. Umzugsabsichten werden überdurchschnittlich oft von Männern, Hochqualifizierten, Auszubildenden, Personen mit einem hohen Pro-Kopf-Haushaltseinkommen und Pendlern geäußert. Das gleiche gilt für Personen, die sich ungerecht entlohnt sehen, Verwandte im Westen haben, in Städten mittlerer Größe wohnen oder unzufrieden mit den regionalen Umweltbedingungen sind. Eine Umzugsabsicht wird seltener geäußert von älteren Personen, Beschäftigten im öffentlichen Dienst oder in einem neu gegründeten Betrieb, mit einem Partner und/oder mit Kleinkindern zusammenlebenden Personen sowie Wohnungseigentümern. Eine einmal geäußerte Absichtserklärung, eventuell nach Westdeutschland umziehen zu wollen, realisierten überdurchschnittlich oft gut Qualifizierte, Kurzarbeiter und Personen, die sich von Arbeitslosigkeit bedroht fühlen, sowie Personen mit Verwandten in Westdeutschland. Eine sehr hohe Realisierungsquote haben zudem Pendler. Auf eine Umsetzung der Umzugsabsicht verzichten überdurchschnittlich oft Personen, die sich in Fortbildung befinden, Beschäftigte in neu gegründeten Betrieben, Personen mit einem erwerbstätigen Partner sowie Personen, die in Dörfern oder Kleinstädten wohnen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

In Germany 1,41 children are born per women which results in a much lower birth-rate than in France. Time and again it has been discussed if a family orientated tax- and transfer system can influence birth rates. In Germany, France is often designated as a role model. Based on a model calculation this contribution shows how disposable income of German families would change, if the French tax- and transfer system were introduced. It will be distinguished among different family and employment compositions. One of the results is that families with only one child would be financially worth of under the French system while families with more children would benefit.

This paper applies semiparametric regression models using penalized splines to investigate the profile of well-being over the life span. Splines have the advantage that they do not require a priori assumptions about the form of the curve. Using data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), the analysis shows a common, quite similar, age-specific pattern of life satisfaction for both Britain and Germany that can be characterized by three age stages. In the first stage, life satisfaction declines until approximately the fifth life decade. In the second age stage, well-being clearly increases and has a second turning point (maximum) after which well-being decreases in the third age stage. Several reasons for the three-phase pattern are discussed. We point to the fact that neither polynomial functions of the third nor the fourth degree describe the relationship adequately: polynomials locate the minimum and the maximum imprecisely. In addition, our analysis discusses the indistinguishability of age, period, and cohort effects: we propose estimating age-period models that control for cohort effects including substantive variables, such as the life expectancy of the birth cohort, and further observed socioeconomic characteristics in the regression.

This paper applies semiparametric regression models using penalized splines to investigate the profile of well-being over the life span. Splines have the advantage that they do not require a priori assumptions about the form of the curve. Using data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), the analysis shows a common, quite similar, age-specific pattern of life satisfaction for both Britain and Germany that can be characterized by three age stages. In the first stage, life satisfaction declines until approximately the fifth life decade. In the second age stage, well-being clearly increases and has a second turning point (maximum) after which well-being decreases in the third age stage. Several reasons for the three-phase pattern are discussed. We point to the fact that neither polynomial functions of the third nor the fourth degree describe the relationship adequately: polynomials locate the minimum and the maximum imprecisely. In addition, our analysis discusses the indistinguishability of age, period, and cohort effects: we propose estimating age-period models that control for cohort effects including substantive variables, such as the life expectancy of the birth cohort, and further observed socioeconomic characteristics in the regression.

"Wie lohnend war Ausbildung in der zentral geleiteten Volkswirtschaft der DDR und inwiefern sind Unterschiede zur Bundesrepublik Deutschland feststellbar? Dies sind die zentralen Fragen des Beitrags. Für beide ehemalige deutschen Staaten werden die Ergebnisse vergleichbarer Einkommensfunktionsschätzungen vorgestellt, die auf der Basis der Humankapitaltheorie entwickelt werden. Die Schätzungen beruhen auf der Einkommensstichprobe in Arbeiter- und Angestelltenhaushalten der DDR von 1988 und dem Sozio-ökonomischen Panel 1989 für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Die wichtigsten Ergebnisse in Kürze: - Es wird gezeigt, daß die geschätzte Einkommensfunktion auch für die DDR gültig war. - Indes sind signifikante Unterschiede zur früheren Bundesrepublik feststellbar. Die Ausbildungsrendite war mit 5,6% deutlich geringer als in der Bundesrepublik mit 8%. - Der Schätzansatz vermag nur etwa ein Drittel der gesamten Einkommensvarianz in der DDR zu erklären. Dies erfordert weitergehende Analysen des Lohnbildungsprozesses in planwirtschaftlichen Systemen." (Autorenreferat)

This paper provides evidence that subjective measures of individual well being can be used to study the impact of income uncertainty from an ex ante point of view. Two different measures of subjective well being are under study: Satisfaction with household income and the income evaluation question as developed by Van Praag. It can be shown that satisfaction with income is more affected by ex ante than by ex post volatility of income. The ordinal version of the Van Praag approach might be biased if income uncertainty is essential. The paper was written in 1994.

This paper provides evidence that subjective measures of individual well being can be used to study the impact of income uncertainty from an ex ante point of view. Two different measures of subjective well being are under study: Satisfaction with household income and the income evaluation question as developed by Van Praag. It can be shown that satisfaction with income is more affected by ex ante than by ex post volatility of income. The ordinal version of the Van Praag approach might be biased if income uncertainty is essential. The paper was written in 1994.

This paper analyses the contribution of capital income to income inequality in a cross-national comparison. Using micro-data from the Cross-National Equivalent File (CNEF) for three prominent panel studies, namely the BHPS for Great Britain, the SOEP for West Germany, and the PSID for the USA, a factor decomposition method described by Shorrocks (1982) is applied. The factor decomposition of disposable income into single income components shows that capital income is exceedingly volatile and its share in disposable income has risen in recent years. Moreover, capital income makes a disproportionately high contribution to overall inequality in relation to its share in disposable income. This applies to Germany and the USA in particular. Thus capital income accounts for a large part of disparity in all three countries.

The premium rates paid for statutory health insurance in Germany play a key role in the competition among health care funds. With the most recent health care reform (GKV-Wettbewerbsstärkungsgesetz GKV-WSG), a range of new products have been introduced that could erode the advantageous selling proposition of the premium rates. In addition to the pure monetary incentive to change health insurance provider, the new products include aspects that are becoming increasingly important to insured persons, such as the assessment of their own morbidity and the level and quality of health care provision. We find that current morbidity, experiences in morbidity, and expectations about morbidity will gain in importance when choosing health care provider. Using micro-data for the years 1999 to 2004 from the German Socio-Economic Panel study (SOEP), we investigate the willingness to change health provider in a multivariate setting. The SOEP data will be matched with register information about premium rates of all statutory health insurance funds in Germany. Applying a multinomial logit model, we show that there are two prototypes of insured people who change funds. The characteristics of those who changed funds can be used to evaluate the future developments in statutory health insurance in Germany, assuming that customer mobility will continue to increase.

Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (GSOEP), it is shown that income comparison with persons who are better off has a clear impact on the job satisfaction of West German full-time employees. Two contrary effects can be identified. On the one hand, there is an aversion to disadvantageous regional income inequality, while on the other hand, individuals prefer inequality within their occupational group. The two effects are interpreted as envy and an information (or tunnel) effect, respectively. The analysis of income comparison with persons who are worse off suggests a prestige effect. However, downward comparison is of minor importance for job satisfaction.

Using merged data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), this paper applies a parametric difference-in-differences approach to assess the real effects of the introduction of the euro on subjective well-being. A complementary nonparametric approach is also used to analyze the impact of difficulties with the new currency on well-being. The results indicate a severe loss in well-being associated with the introduction of the new currency, with the predicted probability that a person is contented with his/her household income diminishing by 9.7 percentage points. We calculate a compensating income variation of approximately one-third. That is, an increase in postgovernment household income of more than 30% is needed to compensate for the rather drastic decline in well-being. The reasons for the negative impact are threefold. First, perceived inflation overestimates the real increase in prices resulting in suboptimal consumption decisions. Second, money illusion causes a false assessment of the budget constraint. Third, individuals have to bear the costs from the conversion and the adjustment to the new currency. Moreover, it is thought that losses are smaller when financial ability is higher. However, the impact of difficulties in using and converting the new currency is rather small, and the initial problems were overcome within one year of the introduction of euro cash.

Background: Studies from several countries have shown that self-rated health is an independent predictor of mortality. However, no empirical evidence exists for Germany so far. We investigate the effectiveness of (i) self-ratings of health by individuals and (ii) changes in self-rated health, as predictors of mortality for Germany. Methods: A sub-sample of 3,096 respondents, aged 50 years and over, is drawn from the annual collections of data of the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (GSOEP), between 1994 and 1996. Several probit models are estimated in order to analyse the impact of selfrated health and of changes in self-rated health on predictions of mortality. Results: We find that, while currently self-rated health is shown to be a valid predictor of mortality in Germany, adding previously self-rated health has no effect on explaining the probability of death. Furthermore, one-year changes in self-rated health do not have an additional impact on predicting mortality. Conclusion: Our results for Germany confirm international evidence. In addition, the assumption that self-rated health reflects trajectories and not only the current level of health can be neglected. This leads us to the conclusion that self-rated health reflects a static rather than a dynamic perspective of health. Therefore, when evaluating a population’s state of health, it may be sufficient to rely on self-assessments of health at one point of time instead of using panel data.

Using 1985–1999 data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (GSOEP) to analyze wages we confirm the hypothesis that existing computer wage premiums are determined by individual ability or other unobserved individual characteristics rather than by productivity effects. While a rather large personal computer (PC) wage premium was found in the crosssectional regressions even after the inclusion of standard controls, the conventional longitudinal regression analysis revealed substantially lower or statistically insignificant coefficients, as have other studies. In addition, a new method of testing the two competing explanations for computer wage differentials against each other was found: future PC variables were employed in the wage regressions in order to obtain a further control for worker heterogeneity. The finding that future PC variables have a statistically significant effect on current wages leads one to conclude that computer wage differentials can be attributed to worker heterogeneity rather than to computer-induced productivity.

Much progress has been made in recent years on developing and applying a direct measure of utility using survey questions on subjective well-being. In this paper we explore whether this new type of measurement can be fruitfully applied to the study of interdependent utility in general, and altruism between parents and adult children who moved away from home in particular. We introduce an appropriate econometric methodology and, using data from the German SocioEconomic Panel for the years 2000-2004, find that the parents� self-reported happiness depends positively on the happiness of their adult children. A one standard deviation move in the child�s happiness has the same effect as a 45 percent move in household income.

"In the paper, for the first time in western Germany, estimates of the wage curve are presented using individual panel data. Therefore, it is possible to control for the influence of individual unobserved heterogeneity on the estimation of the wage curve. The relationship between regional wages and the regional unemployment rate diminishes clearly if this is done. Furthermore, panel data makes it possible to control for unobserved regional effects through a specific variance component in the equation to be estimated. The results point to regional effects of a quite remarkable size." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Mit Daten des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels für das Jahr 2002 wird gezeigt, dass die jüngere Generationmit ihrer finanziellen Alterssicherung deutlich unzufriedener ist als die ältere. Dieser Effekt ist unabhängig von der ökonomischen Situation der Befragten, weist also darauf hin, dass es grundsätzliche Unterschiede zwischen den Generationen gibt. Für das Jahr 1992 konnte dieser Effekt nicht nachgewiesen werden.Während eine geschlossene Erwerbsbiographie einen positiven Einfluss auf die Zufriedenheit hat, wirken sich Perioden von Arbeitslosigkeit sowie unsichere Zukunftserwartungen negativ aus. Trotz der deutlich gestiegenen Unzufriedenheit mit der Alterssicherung stehen große Teile der Bevölkerung einer privatwirtschaftlich organisierten Altersvorsorge skeptisch gegenüber. Ganz allgemein kann gezeigt werden, dass mit ihrer Alterssicherung Unzufriedene dem Staat größeres Vertrauen entgegenbringen. Die meisten Befragten halten staatliche Zuschüsse für die private Altersvorsorge zwar für wichtig, die Anreize scheinen aber nicht ausreichend zu sein, um breite Bevölkerungsschichten zum Aufbau einer hinreichenden Privatvorsorge zu bewegen. Diese ist vielmehr deutlich von den finanziellen Möglichkeiten der Befragten geprägt. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study 2002, we show that satisfaction with the German public pension system is significantly lower in the younger generation. This effect is independent from the individual economic situation and cannot be observed in earlier years.Whereas long periods of full time employment increase satisfaction with old-age security, unemployment has a significant negative impact. In spite of being rather discontented with old-age security, large parts of the population are mistrustful of a more comprehensive privatization of old-age pensions. In general, the dissatis- fied tend to prefer a state-organized old-age security. Most respondents consider state subsidies to be important for private old-age security. However, the incentives do not seem to be suitable for broader implementation of private provision.

The question that this paper addresses is whether or not parents are altruistic towards their children. A new approach will be introduced, where the life satisfaction data of parents will be regressed onto the living conditions of their children who now live independently. After controlling for unobserved household characteristics, no positive effect of children?s actual household income on parents? satisfaction can be found. However, children?s health and education have a positive impact on parental well-being. Both can be interpreted as an approximation of children?s lifetime incomes. We also regress parental life satisfaction on the predicted life satisfaction of their children. A significant positive effect can be found, which can be interpreted as weak evidence for parental altruism. The paper uses data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP).

This paper analyzes the determinants of secondary jobholding in Germany and the UK. Although differing in labor market regulations, moonlighting is a persistent phenomenon in both countries. Using panel data from the BHPS and the SOEP, reduced form participation equations are estimated for male and female workers separately. While the results vary across gender and countries, there is support for both main theoretical strands, i.e. the ?hours-constraints? motive as well as the ?heterogeneous-jobs? motive. In particular, there is evidence that particularly German workers who would like to work more hours are more likely to have a second job. On the other hand, the prospect of starting a new job is associated with moonlighting behavior of mainly British workers.

We link life-satisfaction data to inequality of the pre- and post-government income distribution at the regional level, to estimate the degree of inequality aversion. Three different inequality measures are used. In addition, we investigate whether a reduction in inequality by the state increases individual well-being. We find only weak evidence that Germans are inequality averse. Inequality reduction by the state does not increase wellbeing. On the contrary, inequality reduction imposes an excess burden on middle-income earners. The paper uses data from the German Socio-economic Panel Study (GSOEP) from 1985 to 1998.

This paper examines the effect of smoking behavior on earnings. Using data from the GSOEP, both cross-sectional and longitudinal models are estimated separately for males and females. Results for the cross-sectional models confirm prior analyses inasmuch as smoking has a negative effect on earnings for males. However, applying fixed-effects estimation, this effect is found to be inverted for men aged 25 to 35 years compared to their non-smoking counterparts. That is, controlling for unobservable individual heterogeneity, the result implies that male smokers are individuals with higher time preference rates. At the early stage of the age-earnings course higher earnings are therefore found for smokers because young male non-smokers only are about to start off their occupational career. Women?s earnings, however, are not affected by smoking behavior.

"Diese Expertise ist eine Vorstudie zu den theoretischen und empirischen Anforderungen sowie den Möglichkeiten eines familienbezogenen Einkommensmonitoring. Zunächst werden grundlegende Überlegungen zur Entwicklung eines tragfähigen Einkommenskonzepts angestellt, das verschiedene Anforderungen erfüllen sollte. Anschließend werden die für Deutschland verfügbaren Mikrodaten für Haushalte und Personen vorgestellt und im Hinblick auf die skizzierten Anforderungen geprüft und verglichen. Insbesondere die Einkommens- und Verbrauchsstichprobe (EVS) und das Sozio-oekonomische Panel (SOEP) kommen als Datengrundlage für ein familienbezogenes Monitoring in Frage. Beide Datensätze bieten die Möglichkeit einer differenzierten Analyse von Einkommenskomponenten auf verschiedenen Ebenen. Beide Datensätze haben aber auch Vor- und Nachteile. Allerdings spricht für das SOEP, dass es sich um eine laufende, jährliche Erhebung handelt, mit der zudem auch die Dynamik der Einkommensverteilung analysiert werden kann." (Autorenreferat) "In this study, conceptual and methodological issues regarding a family-oriented income monitoring will be discussed. An appropriate income concept will be presented and requirements for micro data are being formulated. Subsequently, available micro data for Germany are considered with respect to these requirements: The 'Einkommens- und Verbrauchsstichprobe' (EVS) and the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP). Both sources provide information for differentiated income analysis, but they also have their shortcomings. The SOEP, however, allows for issuing annual reports and, in addition to that, for a dynamic analysis of the income distribution." (author's abstract)

Background: Studies from several countries have shown that self-rated health is an independent predictor of mortality. However, no empirical evidence exists for Germany so far. We investigate the effectiveness of (i) self-ratings of health by individuals and (ii) changes in self-rated health, as predictors of mortality for Germany. Methods: A sub-sample of 3,096 respondents, aged 50 years and over, is drawn from the annual collections of data of the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (GSOEP), between 1994 and 1996. Several probit models are estimated in order to analyse the impact of selfrated health and of changes in self-rated health on predictions of mortality. Results: We find that, while currently self-rated health is shown to be a valid predictor of mortality in Germany, adding previously self-rated health has no effect on explaining the probability of death. Furthermore, one-year changes in self-rated health do not have an additional impact on predicting mortality. Conclusion: Our results for Germany confirm international evidence. In addition, the assumption that self-rated health reflects trajectories and not only the current level of health can be neglected. This leads us to the conclusion that self-rated health reflects a static rather than a dynamic perspective of health. Therefore, when evaluating a population's state of health, it may be sufficient to rely on self-assessments of health at one point of time instead of using panel data.

"Werden Familien zunehmend von der Sozialhilfe abhängig? Die Expertise behandelt einen Teilaspekt dieser Frage: Inwieweit setzen staatliche Transfers positive oder negative Anreize zur Erwerbstätigkeit? Zwar mindern staatliche Transferleistungen den Anreiz erwerbstätig zu sein. Gleichwohl können persönliche Auswirkungen von Arbeitslosigkeit und stigmatisierende Effekte des Sozialhilfebezugs die Erwerbsneigung auch positiv beeinflussen. Die empirische Untersuchung basiert auf Daten des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP). Analysiert werden erfragte Anspruchslöhne von nicht erwerbstätigen Personen. Die erzielten Ergebnisse sind nicht eindeutig. Für verheiratete Frauen zeigt sich ein signifikant negativer Einfluss des Sozialhilfebezugs auf den Anspruchslohn. Verglichen mit Frauen, die keine Sozialhilfe beziehen, wären sie also bereit, zu einem geringeren Lohn zu arbeiten. Einige Analysen zeigen aber auch positive Zusammenhänge zwischen Transferzahlungen - insbesondere bei Leistungen nach dem AFG - und dem Anspruchslohn. Zum Abschluss der Expertise werden einige sozial- und familienpolitische Konsequenzen diskutiert." (Autorenreferat)

Background: Studies from several countries have shown that self-rated health is an independent predictor of mortality. However, no empirical evidence exists for Germany so far. We investigate the effectiveness of (i) self-ratings of health by individuals and (ii) changes in self-rated health, as predictors of mortality for Germany. Methods: A sub-sample of 3,096 respondents, aged 50 years and over, is drawn from the annual collections of data of the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (GSOEP), between 1994 and 1996. Several probit models are estimated in order to analyse the impact of selfrated health and of changes in self-rated health on predictions of mortality. Results: We find that, while currently self-rated health is shown to be a valid predictor of mortality in Germany, adding previously self-rated health has no effect on explaining the probability of death. Furthermore, one-year changes in self-rated health do not have an additional impact on predicting mortality. Conclusion: Our results for Germany confirm international evidence. In addition, the assumption that self-rated health reflects trajectories and not only the current level of health can be neglected. This leads us to the conclusion that self-rated health reflects a static rather than a dynamic perspective of health. Therefore, when evaluating a population's state of health, it may be sufficient to rely on self-assessments of health at one point of time instead of using panel data.

Die aktuelle Diskussion über den Risikostrukturausgleich (RSA) zwischen den Gesetzlichen Krankenkassen konzentriert sich auf die Frage, ob zusätzlich Morbiditätsmerkmale berücksichtigt werden sollen. Vorliegende Studien deuten darauf hin, dass Kassenwechsler im Durchschnitt bessere Risiken sind. In diesem Beitrag werden die Determinanten des Kassenwechsels mit Daten des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP) analysiert. Dabei zeigt sich, dass der Beitragssatz die entscheidende Determinante ist. Eine Steigerung des Beitragssatzes um einen Prozentpunkt erhöht die Wahrscheinlichkeit eines Wechsels im Durchschnitt um 4 Prozentpunkte. Einen positiven Einfluss auf die Wechselwahrscheinlichkeit hat auch das Erwerbseinkommen, allerdings nur bis zur Höhe der Beitragsbemessungsgrenze. Ältere Menschen wechseln hingegen weniger häufig die Krankenkasse. Im Hinblick auf die Inanspruchnahme von Leistungen des Gesundheitssystems sind die Ergebnisse nicht eindeutig: Während mit steigender stationärer Inanspruchnahme die Wahrscheinlichkeit eines Kassenwechsels abnimmt, zeigt sich für die ambulante Inanspruchnahme ein positiver Einfluss. It is currently intensively discussed whether the system of risk structure adjustment (RSA) among German statutory sickness funds should be supplemented by morbidity indicators. It has been showed that employees who change their sickness funds are better risks and thus shift the morbidity structure in advantage to the funds they change to. Using data drawn from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (GSOEP) we analyze why German employees change their sickness fund. We find that the contribution rate is the most important determinant. A one percent change in the contribution rate will increase the probability of change by four percent. The probability is also positively effected by earnings up to the assessable income limit but decreasing with age. Regarding to the RSA debate the results are not clear: While the extent of utilization of the stationary medical care system has a negative impact on the probability of changing we find a positive effect of ambulant utilization. Thus, it is not clear whether changers are the better risks.

Mit den Längsschnittdaten des SOEP wird in diesem Beitrag untersucht, wie geringfügig Beschäftigte auf die im April 1999 eingeführte Sozialversicherungspflicht für derartige Beschäftigungsverhältnisse reagiert haben. Da ausschließlich geringfügig Beschäftigte und geringfügig Nebentätige auf sehr unterschiedliche Weise von den Neuregelungen betroffen sind, werden separate empirische Analysen durchgeführt. Die Dynamik der geringfügigen Beschäftigung und der Nebentätigkeit werden mit einer pseudo-kontrafaktischen Situation verglichen, um die über die ?natürlichen? Veränderungen hinausgehenden Einflüsse der Reform analysieren zu können. Weiterhin wird mit ökonometrischen Methoden untersucht, welche Determinanten den Verbleib in oder das Ausscheiden aus der geringfügigen Beschäftigung bzw. der Nebentätigkeit beeinflussen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass eine Strukturveränderung der geringfügigen Beschäftigung stattgefunden hat: Geringfügig Nebenerwerbstätige werden tendenziell durch ausschließlich geringfügig Beschäftigte substituiert. Die Strukturveränderung kann sowohl angebots- als auch nachfrageseitig erklärt werden. Dem Ziel der Einbeziehung der Einkommen aus geringfügiger Beschäftigung zur Finanzierung der Sozialversicherungssysteme ist man sicherlich näher gekommen. Ob allerdings die Beschäftigten, und insbesondere die verheirateten Frauen, nennenswerte eigene Ansprüche an vor allem die gesetzliche Rentenversicherung aufbauen werden, bleibt fraglich. Ihre Anreize, in eine Teilzeit- oder Vollzeiterwerbstätigkeit zu wechseln, sind durch die Reform noch weiter vermindert worden. Using longitudinal data from the GSOEP, we analyse the behaviour of jobholders in response to the introduction of social insurance contributions on minimal employment (a specific form of part-time employment in Germany). As the so-called ?exclusively marginal employed? jobholders and ?marginal employed? double-jobholders are affected quite differently, separate empirical analyses are carried out. The dynamics of marginal employment as well as the dynamics of second jobholding are compared to a pseudo-contrafactual situation to analyse the effects of the reform apart from possible ?natural? changes. Using econometric methods, we furthermore analyse which determinants affect the stay in or the exit from marginal employment or double-jobholding. The results show that marginal employment has undergone a change in structure: marginal employed double-jobholders are likely to be substituted by exclusively marginal employed jobholders, which can be explained both from the labour-supply side as well as from the labour-demand side. The reform, one the one hand, is successful with respect to the inclusion of incomes from marginal employment to finance social insurance systems. If, one the other hand, jobholders, married women especially, will build up substantial entitlements to social insurance benefits remains questionable, as the reform caused decreasing incentives to pick up a regular full- or part-time employment.

In this paper a new method to estimate the equivalence scale elasticity using individual panel data on income satisfaction will be developed. In contrast to other subjective approaches, the present one benefits from the fact that no direct cardinal individual welfare function has to be specified. In addition, panel data enables different scale use by the respondents to be controlled. The approach gives straightforward evidence: Obviously there is an optimal elasticity at which people feel satisfied with their income.

Empirical evidence from several countries reveals that self-rated health is a valid predictor of mortality. So far, there have been no studies conducted for Germany. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (GSOEP) we confirm the relationship between self-rated health and mortality for Germany. In addition the GSOEP data enable an exploration of the trajectory hypothesis.

"In der Expertise werden neben grundsätzlichen methodischen Überlegungen auch erste Ergebnisse einer Analy-se der wirtschaftlichen Folgen von Scheidung und Trennung mit Längsschnittdaten (SOEP) vorgestellt. Einige Ergebnisse in Kürze: Die Dynamik des Arbeitsangebotsverhaltens ist offensichtlich wesentlich höher als es durch bisherige, auf Quer-schnittdaten basierenden, Analysen gezeigt wurde. Im Zuge von Scheidung und Trennung sind sowohl zu- als auch zu abnehmende Erwerbsaktivitäten zu beobachten. Bei vielen Frauen ist zu beobachten, dass die Überein-stimmung zwischen Erwerbswunsch und realisiertem Arbeitsangebot nach Scheidung oder Trennung größer ist als vorher. Die Ergebnisse der Einkommensanalysen werden durch den zugrundegelegten Einkommensbegriff bestimmt. Werden Pro-Kopf-Einkommen verwendet, dann bewirken Scheidung und Trennung durchgehend keine Ver-schlechterung der Einkommenssituation. Werden aber größere 'economies of scale' der Haushaltsführung un-terstellt, dann zählen vor allem die Frauen zu den Verlierern von Scheidung und Trennung. Für die Sozialpolitik dürfte es von Interesse sein, dass Scheidung und Trennung nicht zu einer deutlichen Zunahme der Inanspruch-nahme der Sozialhilfe führt. Die ökonomischen Folgen von Scheidung und Trennung beeinflussen die allgemeine Lebenszufriedenheit – die als Proxy für subjektiv empfundene Wohlfahrt gelten kann – in negativer Weise. Gleiches gilt aber auch für die Ereignisse Scheidung und Trennung selbst. Allerdings werden diese schon sehr frühzeitig antizipiert." (Autorenreferat) "This expertise deals with methodological issues when analyzing the economic consequences of divorce and separation by means of longitudinal data (German Socio Economic Panel Study). In addition first results are pre-sented: Obviously there is a higher dynamic in labor supply as it was shown by previous studies using cross sectional data. Both, decreases and increases in labor supply can be observed following marital dissolution. However, the results might be interpreted in a way, that for most women desired and realized labor supply match better after dissolution than before. Thus, welfare would increase. The results of the income analyses depend on the income concept chosen. Using per capita income no decrease in income can be observed. Allowing the income concept to have greater economies of scale, however, leads to a decline in the welfare of women. It may be of interest for social policy, that there is no significant increase in the take up of social transfers. The economic consequences of marital dissolution have a negative impact on life satisfaction – which can serve as a proxy for subjective well being. This is also true for the event of marital dissolution itself. However, this ef-fect will be anticipated even before marital dissolution takes place." (author's abstract)

Die Regelungen zur geringfügigen Beschäftigung haben spezifische Anreizwirkungen auf Arbeitsangebot und Arbeitsnachfrage und bei Reformen der Regelungen ist mit entsprechenden Reaktionen der Arbeitsmarktakteure zu rechnen. Der vorliegende Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit den zu erwartenden Reaktionen der verheirateten Frauen. Ausgehend von einem mikroökonometrischen Modell des Arbeitsangebots werden die Abschaffung der Versicherungsfreiheit und die der pauschalen Besteuerung simuliert. Es zeigt sich, daß das Arbeitsangebot im Stundenbereich der geringfügigen Beschäftigung deutlich zurückgehen würde. Ein Großteil der verheirateten Frauen würde sich ganz vom Arbeitsmarkt zurückziehen, ein anderer Teil Arbeitsplätze mit einem größeren Stundenumfang präferieren. Ingesamt würde sich damit die freiwillige Arbeitslosigkeit erhöhen. The exception of marginal employment from paying social security contributions and income taxes has certain incentives on labor supply and labor demand. Changing these rules - as discussed for Germany - would change the behavior of the labor market agents. This paper presents an econometric labor supply model for married women where the rules for marginal employment are explicitely analyzed. The model serves as a base to simulate certain reform strategies for marginal employment. As a result marginal employment would decrease significantly and most of the former marginal employed women would leave the labor market whereas some others would prefer more hours to work. Thus, voluntary unemployment would increase.

One common feature of all empirical wage curve studies is the underlying assumption that the unemployment rate is the natural indicator of labor market tightness. However, we observe that in many European countries governments spend remarkable amounts on labor market training programs. As training programs maintain the search effectiveness of the unemployed and enhance their skills, we incorporate these measures into the standard wage curve approach. Our empirical work reveals an extended wage curve in East Germany. There is a nonlinear and negative relationship between wages and job searcher rates on regional labor markets. Moreover, our estimates give first hints that labor market training programs may reduce wage pressure. Within a theoretical framework like Layard/Nickell/Jackman (1991) this implies that training programs may lower equilibrium unemployment.

Income effects of unemployment and involuntary short-time work are investigated in the context of the East German transformation process from a planned socialistic economy to a market-oriented economy. Theoretical considerations from human capital theory are derived for the income effects in case of later employment. Special attention is given to the benefits of officially supported training courses and impacts of a change to a new firm. The estimation of income effects uses a variance components model which reflects not only a time-constant unobserved heterogenity but also person-related components which are linked to the two economic regimes. The empirical basis is the German Socio-economic Panel (GSOEP) which provides income and employment data for both periods.