Is work satisfaction dependent on wage levels? Insights from a cross-country study

Inspired by the debates within happiness research, this paper approaches the question whether the average job satisfaction in a country depends on the financial situation. In a survey among agricultural researchers in Romania, Austria, Germany and Switzerland, we used a simple job satisfaction item, similar to that used in happiness research, and the more complex job description index. The single item did not indicate significant differences between countries. The job descriptive index, however, revealed a lower job satisfaction in Romania if compared with the three western countries. In addition, these differences were explained fully by differences in the perceived financial situation.