New Economics Papers
on Economics of Happiness
Issue of 2009‒03‒28
five papers chosen by



  1. Happiness and Sex Difference in Life Expectancy By Junji Kageyama
  2. Retribuzioni e segmenti deboli nel mercato del lavoro in un’area urbana a elevato sviluppo economico By Massimo Baldini; Paolo Silvestri
  3. Stili di vita, salute e accesso ai servizi sanitari: un’analisi delle disuguaglianze nella provincia di Modena By Anita Chiarolanza; Massimo Brunetti; Paolo Silvestri
  4. Le principali dinamiche della condizione economica delle famiglie modenesi tra il 2002 e il 2006 By Massimo Baldini; Paolo Silvestri
  5. Using participatory based mapping to identify links between special places ‘on country’ and Indigenous well-being: a case study of the Mullunburra-Yidinji people. By Delisle, Aurelie

  1. By: Junji Kageyama (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany)
    Abstract: This paper examines the effects of happiness on the sex gap in life expectancy. Utilizing a cross-country data set, it first inspects the reverse effect of the life expectancy gap on happiness and demonstrates that the life expectancy gap negatively affects happiness through the composition of marital status. Taking this reverse causality into account, it shows that happiness is significant on explaining the differences in the life expectancy gap between countries. As national average happiness increases, the sex difference in life expectancy decreases. This is consistent with the findings that psychological stress (unhappiness)adversely affects survival and that the effect of psychological stress on mortality is more severe for men. This result provides an indirect evidence that happiness affects survival even at the national aggregate level.
    Keywords: economic and social development, life expectancy
    JEL: J1 Z0
    Date: 2009–03
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dem:wpaper:wp-2009-009&r=hap
  2. By: Massimo Baldini; Paolo Silvestri
    Abstract: On the basis of a local household survey carried out in 2002 and in 2006, this paper examines the earnings and job conditions of workers living in the province of Modena, one of the richest areas of Italy. After an analysis of earning changes over the period covered by the two surveys, the paper finds evidence of marked earnings differentials across two dimensions: geographically, between workers living in the city and those living in the suburban area, and between workers with different characteristics, in particular age, gender and place of origin. Finally, the paper explores some subjective indicators of job satisfaction, that turn out to be highly correlated with the quantitative measures of discrimination.
    Keywords: Household survey; labour market discrimination; job satisfaction
    JEL: J31 J70 R23
    Date: 2008–10
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mod:depeco:598&r=hap
  3. By: Anita Chiarolanza; Massimo Brunetti; Paolo Silvestri
    Abstract: On the basis of a local household survey carried out in 2006, this paper examines health inequalities of people living in the province of Modena, one of the richest areas in Italy. Health were considered using different point of view: lifestyle habits (obesity, smoking, physical exercise), use of private and public health services and quality of life. The paper finds evidence of inequalities measured using different indicators, such as income, education, gender. Family environment was found to be a clear key drivers for healthy lifestyle habits.
    Keywords: health inequalities; lifestyle habits, obesity, smoking, physical exercise, health services, quality of life; gender
    JEL: I1 I3
    Date: 2008–10
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mod:depeco:600&r=hap
  4. By: Massimo Baldini; Paolo Silvestri
    Abstract: This paper describes the changes that have taken place in the distribution of income in the province of Modena between 2002 and 2006, on the basis of the information provided by two local surveys on households’ incomes and living standards. The period is characterized by very slow improvements in real average incomes, and by a significant increase in inequality and poverty levels. These changes are in contrast to what seems to have taken place in Italy as a whole, at least until 2006. Finally, we focus on a subjective measure of income poverty and on the role played by immigrants in shaping these modifications.
    Keywords: Disposable income changes, inequality, poverty, local survey
    JEL: J3 J31
    Date: 2008–10
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mod:depeco:599&r=hap
  5. By: Delisle, Aurelie
    Abstract: The standard way of reporting used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not accurately take into consideration all the aspects that contribute to Indigenous well-being, specifically environmental goods and services derived from the use of “countryâ€Â. Using participatory mapping and an economics approach to measuring utility, this qualitative work provides information on the contribution which ecological factors make to the well-being of the Mullunburra-Yidinji people. Results show a link between the use of ‘country’ and wellbeing. These results are relevant to land use planners and highlight that indicators of wellbeing directly related to the environment should be included to measure Aboriginal wellbeing adequately.
    Date: 2009
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aare09:48155&r=hap

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