Empirical Project 8 Solutions

These are not model answers. They are provided to help students, including those doing the project outside a formal class, to check their progress while working through the questions using the Excel, R, or Google Sheets walk-throughs. There are also brief notes for the more interpretive questions. Students taking courses using Doing Economics should follow the guidance of their instructors.

Part 8.1 Cleaning and summarizing the data

Variable New name Variable description
S002EV EVS-wave EVS-wave
S003 Country/region Country/region
S006 Respondent number Original respondent number
S009 Country abbreviation Country abbreviation
A009 Health State of health (subjective)
A170 Life satisfaction Satisfaction with your life
C036 Work Q1 To develop talents you need to have a job
C037 Work Q2 Humiliating to receive money without having to work for it
C038 Work Q3 People who don’t work become lazy
C039 Work Q4 Work is a duty towards society
C041 Work Q5 Work should come first even if it means less spare time
X001 Sex Sex
X003 Age Age
X007 Marital status Marital status
X011_01 Number of children How many children you have—deceased children not included
X025A Education Educational level respondent: ISCED-code one digit
X028 Employment Employment status
X047D Monthly household income Monthly household income (× 1,000), corrected for ppp in euros

Completed data dictionary.

Solution figure 8.1 Completed data dictionary.

  1. Examples of answers on how some of the variables were measured are provided:
  1. (a)(e) No solution is provided. For Excel users: Refer to Excel walk-through 8.1 for guidance on answering Question 3(a) and (e). For R users: Refer to R walk-through 8.2. For Google Sheets users: Refer to Google Sheets walk-through 8.1.
  1. No solution is provided.
Country Full-time Housewife Other Part-time Retired Self-employed Students Unemployed
Albania 29.42 7.42 1.50 5.50 9.08 22.08 7.33 17.67
Armenia 23.86 20.92 1.14 8.09 18.38 5.96 6.70 14.95
Austria 39.80 7.24 1.89 9.95 25.49 5.02 8.39 2.22
Belarus 57.88 2.43 1.21 6.95 18.59 3.40 6.87 2.67
Belgium 42.89 5.96 3.72 8.94 23.01 3.57 5.21 6.70
Bosnia Herzegovina 34.06 9.33 0.82 2.90 14.67 3.08 8.15 26.99
Bulgaria 46.32 2.62 0.76 2.79 31.28 5.58 2.37 8.28
Croatia 41.58 3.37 0.93 2.78 26.01 2.86 8.75 13.72
Cyprus 46.32 13.68 1.29 2.84 24.39 6.58 1.68 3.23
Czech Republic 46.56 3.06 4.66 1.68 31.27 3.82 5.43 3.52
Denmark 55.89 0.28 1.32 6.69 24.32 5.94 4.15 1.41
Estonia 50.35 4.08 2.20 5.11 28.52 3.61 3.38 2.75
Finland 52.34 1.38 3.94 5.11 22.77 6.17 3.72 4.57
France 46.83 5.59 1.94 6.04 28.78 2.76 3.13 4.92
Georgia 19.46 11.60 0.81 6.57 19.38 7.06 2.60 32.52
Germany 38.44 4.58 3.03 8.44 28.64 2.97 2.67 11.23
Great Britain 33.50 7.32 4.01 11.23 28.99 5.72 1.40 7.82
Greece 28.49 17.42 0.40 2.97 26.73 13.72 6.18 4.09
Hungary 46.39 1.20 7.21 2.00 24.04 3.53 6.57 9.05
Iceland 54.50 2.25 6.01 9.91 7.06 11.41 4.95 3.90
Ireland 41.87 19.84 1.59 9.72 13.89 4.96 1.59 6.55
Italy 32.88 8.33 0.46 9.13 23.06 13.70 7.08 5.37
Kosovo 19.57 11.65 0.52 5.23 5.83 9.41 18.00 29.80
Latvia 52.05 6.18 2.34 3.76 23.22 3.26 4.26 4.93
Lithuania 50.13 4.11 2.89 5.16 23.97 3.41 6.04 4.29
Luxembourg 51.33 9.36 1.12 7.38 15.36 3.00 9.87 2.58
Macedonia 35.74 4.34 1.24 1.71 16.74 3.72 8.53 27.98
Malta 33.84 32.33 0.68 3.84 23.42 2.33 0.55 3.01
Moldova 30.49 7.24 1.87 7.58 25.64 4.86 4.43 17.89
Montenegro 39.02 4.63 0.60 2.14 16.64 4.97 4.80 27.19
Netherlands 32.40 9.52 3.68 18.24 27.76 6.48 0.80 1.12
Northern Cyprus 31.19 19.55 2.23 5.20 8.91 8.91 13.61 10.40
Northern Ireland 30.10 10.36 4.53 8.74 29.45 3.56 1.29 11.97
Norway 53.23 2.22 6.55 9.48 12.60 8.17 7.06 0.71
Poland 41.81 6.00 0.10 3.14 28.00 5.81 7.62 7.52
Portugal 46.20 5.24 1.57 3.27 33.51 1.70 1.05 7.46
Romania 41.07 10.54 1.95 3.22 33.95 3.02 3.61 2.63
Russian Federation 54.36 5.81 2.72 5.08 23.77 1.27 2.72 4.26
Serbia 34.21 5.02 1.07 2.38 25.16 6.91 4.11 21.13
Slovakia 40.98 1.73 4.89 2.21 39.73 3.55 1.25 5.66
Slovenia 47.44 2.50 2.75 1.25 31.59 4.37 6.99 3.12
Spain 41.52 16.30 0.11 4.63 19.93 6.28 3.19 8.04
Sweden 54.82 0.38 6.60 7.36 15.36 7.23 4.06 4.19
Switzerland 48.50 6.42 3.21 14.03 21.31 2.89 1.39 2.25
Turkey 16.42 42.39 0.60 2.14 10.00 7.66 5.92 14.88
Ukraine 40.92 6.79 1.02 4.84 32.09 4.41 3.23 6.71

Self-reported employment status in each country (per cent of sample).

Solution figure 8.2 Self-reported employment status in each country (per cent of sample).

Male Female
Mean Standard deviation Mean Standard deviation
Life satisfaction 6.98 2.30 6.98 2.30
Self-reported health 3.68 0.95 3.68 0.95
Work ethic 3.68 0.76 3.68 0.76
Age 47.10 17.42 47.09 17.42
Education 3.09 1.36 3.09 1.36
Number of children 1.63 1.41 1.63 1.41

A summary table for the EVS data.

Solution figure 8.3 A summary table for the EVS data.

Part 8.2 Visualizing the data

  1. Germany is used as an example.
Range of work ethic score Frequency Percentage of individuals (%)
1.00 0 0.00
1.20 3 0.21
1.40 6 0.42
1.60 9 0.63
1.80 15 1.05
2.00 18 1.26
2.20 21 1.47
2.40 47 3.28
2.60 68 4.75
2.80 79 5.52
3.00 114 7.96
3.20 130 9.08
3.40 166 11.59
3.60 171 11.94
3.80 185 12.92
4.00 164 11.45
4.20 106 7.40
4.40 55 3.84
4.60 34 2.37
4.80 20 1.40
5.00 21 1.47

Frequency table for work ethic (Germany, Wave 3).

Solution figure 8.4 Frequency table for work ethic (Germany, Wave 3).

Range of work ethic score Frequency Percentage of individuals (%)
1.0 1 0.06
1.2 1 0.06
1.4 0 0.00
1.6 6 0.36
1.8 9 0.53
2.0 18 1.07
2.2 22 1.31
2.4 35 2.08
2.6 44 2.61
2.8 75 4.46
3.0 90 5.35
3.2 125 7.43
3.4 152 9.03
3.6 171 10.16
3.8 180 10.70
4.0 207 12.30
4.2 191 11.35
4.4 166 9.86
4.6 79 4.69
4.8 37 2.20
5.0 74 4.40

Frequency table for work ethic (Germany, Wave 4).

Solution figure 8.5 Frequency table for work ethic (Germany, Wave 4).

Distribution of work ethic score in Germany: Waves 3 and 4.

Solution figure 8.6 Distribution of work ethic score in Germany: Waves 3 and 4.

Country Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4
Belgium 7.37 7.60 7.42 7.63
Denmark 8.21 8.17 8.31 8.41
France 6.71 6.77 6.98 7.05
Germany 7.22 7.03 7.43 6.77
Iceland 8.05 8.01 8.08 8.07
Italy 6.65 7.30 7.18 7.40
Netherlands 7.75 7.77 7.83 7.99
Northern Ireland 7.66 7.88 8.07 7.82
Spain 6.60 7.15 6.97 7.29
Sweden 8.03 7.99 7.62 7.68

Average life satisfaction across countries and survey waves.

Solution figure 8.7 Average life satisfaction across countries and survey waves.

Line chart of average life satisfaction (wellbeing) across countries and survey waves.

Solution figure 8.8 Line chart of average life satisfaction (wellbeing) across countries and survey waves.

Variable life satisfaction Work ethic
Age –0.08 0.13
Education 0.09 –0.15
Full-time employment 0.18 –0.03
Gender (= 0 if male, = 1 if female) –0.02 –0.05
Self-reported health 0.38 –0.07
Income 0.24 –0.15
Number of children –0.02 0.09
Relative income 0.19 –0.05
Life satisfaction 1.00 –0.03
Work ethic –0.03 1.00

Correlation between life satisfaction, work ethic and other variables.

Solution figure 8.9 Correlation between life satisfaction, work ethic and other variables.

Average life satisfaction Employment status
Country/Region Full-time Retired Unemployed
Albania 6.63 5.81 6.07
Armenia 6.04 4.85 5.46
Austria 7.44 7.74 6.07
Belarus 6.10 5.62 5.61
Belgium 7.72 7.83 6.37
Bosnia Herzegovina 7.33 7.01 6.77
Bulgaria 6.18 4.97 4.69
Croatia 7.31 6.48 7.17
Cyprus 7.38 7.03 6.56
Czech Republic 7.30 6.89 6.07
Denmark 8.54 8.21 7.20
Estonia 6.93 6.25 4.97
Finland 7.82 8.02 5.77
France 7.20 6.97 6.24
Georgia 6.12 4.69 5.42
Germany 7.26 6.85 4.61
Great Britain 7.53 7.93 6.03
Greece 7.15 6.62 5.98
Hungary 6.65 5.89 4.86
Iceland 8.20 8.45 7.23
Ireland 7.90 7.83 7.18
Italy 7.43 7.44 6.60
Kosovo 6.30 6.04 6.78
Latvia 6.52 5.93 5.31
Lithuania 6.59 5.63 4.53
Luxembourg 7.87 8.24 5.50
Macedonia 7.19 6.67 6.61
Malta 7.70 7.76 5.95
Moldova 7.12 5.98 6.07
Montenegro 7.63 7.22 7.47
Netherlands 8.04 7.95 7.00
Northern Cyprus 6.74 6.44 5.64
Northern Ireland 7.68 7.77 7.54
Norway 8.19 8.26 8.00
Poland 7.46 6.57 7.06
Portugal 6.84 5.88 5.44
Romania 7.14 6.57 7.41
Russian Federation 6.86 5.70 6.40
Serbia 7.17 6.67 6.73
Slovakia 7.47 6.71 6.12
Slovenia 7.83 7.13 6.76
Spain 7.34 7.21 7.19
Sweden 7.88 8.17 6.52
Switzerland 8.04 8.12 5.76
Turkey 6.50 6.61 5.76
Ukraine 6.34 5.44 4.95

Average life satisfaction according to employment status and country.

Solution figure 8.10 Average life satisfaction according to employment status and country.

Country/Region Difference between full-time employed and unemployed Difference between full-time employed and retired
Albania 0.57 0.83
Armenia 0.58 1.18
Austria 1.36 –0.31
Belarus 0.49 0.48
Belgium 1.35 –0.12
Bosnia Herzegovina 0.56 0.33
Bulgaria 1.48 1.20
Croatia 0.14 0.83
Cyprus 0.82 0.35
Czech Republic 1.24 0.42
Denmark 1.34 0.34
Estonia 1.95 0.67
Finland 2.05 –0.20
France 0.96 0.23
Georgia 0.70 1.43
Germany 2.65 0.41
Great Britain 1.51 –0.40
Greece 1.17 0.53
Hungary 1.79 0.76
Iceland 0.97 –0.24
Ireland 0.71 0.07
Italy 0.83 –0.01
Kosovo –0.49 0.26
Latvia 1.21 0.59
Lithuania 2.06 0.96
Luxembourg 2.37 –0.37
Macedonia 0.58 0.52
Malta 1.75 –0.06
Moldova 1.05 1.14
Montenegro 0.16 0.42
Netherlands 1.04 0.09
Northern Cyprus 1.10 0.29
Northern Ireland 0.14 –0.09
Norway 0.19 –0.07
Poland 0.40 0.89
Portugal 1.40 0.96
Romania –0.27 0.56
Russian Federation 0.46 1.16
Serbia 0.44 0.50
Slovakia 1.35 0.76
Slovenia 1.07 0.70
Spain 0.15 0.13
Sweden 1.36 –0.30
Switzerland 2.28 –0.08
Turkey 0.74 –0.11
Ukraine 1.40 0.90

Difference in average life satisfaction: full-time employed minus unemployed, and full-time employed minus retired.

Solution figure 8.11 Difference in average life satisfaction: full-time employed minus unemployed, and full-time employed minus retired.

Difference in life satisfaction between the full-time employed and the unemployed vs average work ethic.

Solution figure 8.12 Difference in life satisfaction between the full-time employed and the unemployed vs average work ethic.

Difference in life satisfaction between the full-time employed and the retired vs average work ethic.

Solution figure 8.13 Difference in life satisfaction between the full-time employed and the retired vs average work ethic.

Part 8.3 Confidence intervals for difference in the mean

  1. Choice of countries for this example:

    • top third: Turkey
    • middle third: Spain
    • lower third: Great Britain.
Full-time Retired Unemployed
Country Average SD Count Average SD Count Average SD Count
Great Britain 7.53 1.85 334 7.93 1.98 289 6.03 2.19 78
Spain 7.34 1.70 377 7.21 1.93 181 7.19 2.14 73
Turkey 6.50 2.55 330 6.61 2.60 201 5.76 3.13 299

Summary table of life satisfaction, by employment status.

Solution figure 8.14 Summary table of life satisfaction, by employment status.

Country Difference in means SD of difference in means Number of observations
Great Britain –0.40 2.71 623
Spain 0.13 2.58 558
Turkey –0.11 3.64 531

Calculated values for differences in life satisfaction (full-time vs retired).

Solution figure 8.15 Calculated values for differences in life satisfaction (full-time vs retired).

Country Difference in means SD of difference in means Number of observations
Great Britain 1.51 2.86 412
Spain 0.15 2.73 450
Turkey 0.74 4.04 629

Calculated values for differences in life satisfaction (full-time vs unemployed).

Solution figure 8.16 Calculated values for differences in life satisfaction (full-time vs unemployed).

Country Difference in means SD of difference in means Number of observations CI distance to sample mean Total width of CI
Great Britain –0.40 2.71 623.00 0.21 0.43
Spain 0.13 2.58 558.00 0.21 0.43
Turkey –0.11 3.64 531.00 0.31 0.62

Calculated width of 95% confidence interval for differences in life satisfaction (full-time vs retired).

Solution figure 8.17 Calculated width of 95% confidence interval for differences in life satisfaction (full-time vs retired).

Country Difference in means SD of difference in means Number of observations CI distance to mean Total width of CI
Great Britain 1.51 2.86 412.00 0.28 0.55
Spain 0.15 2.73 450.00 0.25 0.51
Turkey 0.74 4.04 629.00 0.32 0.63

Calculated width of 95% confidence interval for differences in life satisfaction (full-time vs unemployed).

Solution figure 8.18 Calculated width of 95% confidence interval for differences in life satisfaction (full-time vs unemployed).

Difference in life satisfaction (wellbeing): full-time and retired.

Solution figure 8.19 Difference in life satisfaction (wellbeing): full-time and retired.

Difference in life satisfaction (wellbeing): full-time and unemployed.

Solution figure 8.20 Difference in life satisfaction (wellbeing): full-time and unemployed.