Using data from the long-running German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 1984-2008, this paper analyses the effects of individual preferences and choices on subjective well-being (SWB). It is shown that preferences and choices relating to life goals/values, partner's personality, hours of work,...

This article explores how German pension and retirement policy could be made more sustainable, focusing on selected current options for action rather than attempting to provide a comprehensive overview. Before turning to specific problems and perspectives, the article first discusses key...

Abstract From a political economy perspective, politicians often fail to implement structural reforms. In this contribution we investigate if the resistance to reform is based on the differences in the risk preferences of voters, politicians, and bureaucrats. Based on three surveys among the...

Umweltforschung und Umweltschutz sind keineswegs nur Gegenstand der Naturwissenschaften, sondern empirische Sozial- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften und haben in diesem Problemfeld auch ihren wichtigen Platz. Die entsprechende empirische Forschung dient vor allem zwei Zwecken: zum einen der...