This paper studies the effects of participating in work-related continuous training on non-pecuniary outcomes such as satisfaction, worries, and civic participation (measured by social, cultural, and political participation). There is an extensive literature studying the pecuniary returns to continuous training. Meanwhile, wider benefits of continuous training beyond pecuniary returns have become a top priority
on the European political agenda, while the empirical evidence about these benefits is still scarce. Using rich panel data from the German SOEP, we find evidence that continuous training increases life satisfaction, reduces worries about the own economic and job situation (even after controlling for labor market effects), and increases civic participation in some domains. To mitigate selection bias, we employ a regression-adjusted difference-in-differences matching approach that accounts for selection on observables and for time-invariant unobservables. |
