Stockholm School of Economics

About: Stockholm School of Economics is a education organization based out in Stockholm, Sweden. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cost effectiveness. The organization has 1186 authors who have published 4891 publications receiving 285543 citations. The organization is also known as: Stockholm Business School & Handelshögskolan i Stockholm.

Does Job Satisfaction Improve the Health of Workers? New Evidence Using Panel Data and Objective Measures of Health *

Abstract: This paper evaluates the relationship between job satisfaction and measures of health of workers using the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP). Methodologically, it addresses two important design problems encountered frequently in the literature: (a) cross-sectional causality problems and (b) absence of objective measures of physical health that complement self-reported measures of health status. Not only does using the panel structure with individual fixed effects mitigate the bias from omitting unobservable personal psychosocial characteristics, but employing more objective health measures such as health-system contacts and disability addresses such measurement problems relating to self-report assessments of health status. We find a positive link between job satisfaction (and changes over time therein) and subjective health measures (and changes therein); that is, employees with higher or improved job satisfaction levels feel healthier and are more satisfied with their health. This observation also holds true for more objective measures of health. Particularly, improvements in job satisfaction over time appear to prevent workers from (further) health deterioration.

Risk perception and new age beliefs

Abstract: This is a study of risk perception in relation to New Age (NA) beliefs, including traditional folk superstition and belief in paranormal phenomena, as well as use of alternative healing practices. Data were also obtained on trust dimensions and on personality and psychopathology variables, as well as religious involvement. It was found that four factors accounted for the investigated NA beliefs, which were termed higher consciousness beliefs, denial of analytic knowledge, traditional superstition, and belief in the physical reality of the soul. NA beliefs were strongly and positively related to religious involvement, and negatively to educational level. These beliefs were also positively related to maladjustment and to concerns over tampering with nature. In regression analyses, it was found that NA beliefs explained about 15% of the variance of perceived risk, and that the most powerful explanatory factors were higher consciousness beliefs and beliefs in paranormal phenomena. Traditional superstition and use of healing practices did not contribute to explaining perceived risk.

The Different Dynamics of Personal and General Risk

Abstract: Risk perception is often studied without further specifying to whom the risk is supposed to pertain—the risk target. Such specification is important, in particular as to whether the risk pertains to the respondents themselves (personal risk) or to other people (general risk). In the present study, participants judged the personal and general risk of a large number of hazards. Average personal risk was judged as smaller than general risk, often much smaller, and the two sets of risk judgments did not have the same rank order. Furthermore, they had different correlates. Gender differences in perceived risk were found to be much more pronounced for general than for personal risk. For personal risk, gender differences were most pronounced for hazards where there was a small perceived capacity of protection, while gender differences tended to be more constant for general risk. Economic vulnerability had an effect on both personal and general risk, but a stronger effect on general risk. Similar effects of economic vulnerability were found for men and women, refuting the parallel with a ‘white male effect’. Demand for risk mitigation in most cases was more strongly related to general than to personal risk, but the present results also showed this trend to be weakened or even reversed in cases where personal risk was perceived to be at the same level as general risk; hazards where this was the case included nuclear technology and depletion of the ozone layer. In a second study it was found that nonspecific risk ratings (no risk target specified) were most closely related to general rather than personal risk, and that one's own responsibility for risk management was regarded as much lower than governmental responsibility. Implications for risk communication are discussed.

Reforming corporate governance: redirecting the European agenda

Abstract: Boardrooms Reforming corporate governance in Europe Corporate governance reform is in the air. This article warns against partial and hastily conceived interventions in complex and fragile governance arrangements. Reformers should step back and analyse the fundamental links between corporate law and corporate finance, and between corporate governance and the rest of the economic and legal system. Reform efforts should not meddle with specific ownership and control structures. Specific problems like the poor liquidity of particular stock markets and poor protection of minority shareholders in some countries should be addressed directly. Fundamental reform of corporate governance is probably desirable in certain countries, but will require far-reaching and country-specific changes in the economic system. Reform is thus best handled at the level of individual member states. Initiatives to harmonize the structure and control of corporations at the European Union level are bound to fail, and the prospects for specific proposals like the European company statute are bleak at best. A European Commission ‘Corporate Governance Policy’ should focus on promoting transparency and the dissemination of information. — Erik Bergloof