'Universidad de Sevilla - Secretariado de Recursos Audiovisuales y Nuevas Tecnologias'
Abstract
This paper analyzes the effects of educational mismatch on subjective wellbeing. We
study whether a discrepancy exists between the aspirations associated with the level of
education acquired by the individuals and the opportunities found in the labor market
and, consequently, whether educational mismatch affects their overall levels of
subjective wellbeing. Consistent with education generating certain aspirations, we find
that educational mismatch has a sizable significant negative impact on life satisfaction
for over-educated individuals while the effect is positive for under-educated individuals.
We also study whether individuals showing educational mismatch are less satisfied than
other workers being adequately educated, within a similar job, since this dissatisfaction
could translate into lower performance and productivity. In this case we only find
under-education to negatively affect life satisfaction levels
