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on Economics of Happiness |
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Issue of 2012‒04‒17
five papers chosen by |
| By: | Johannes Vatter |
| Abstract: | This paper examines regional differences in subjective well-being (SWB) in Germany. Inferential statistics indicate a diminishing but still significant gap between East and West Germany, but also differing levels of SWB within both parts. The observed regional pattern of life satisfaction reflects macroeconomic fundamentals, where labor market conditions play a dominant role. Differing levels of GDP and economic growth have contributed rather indirectly to regional well-being such that the years since the German reunification can be considered as a period of joyless growth. Approximately half of the "satisfaction gap" between East and West Germany can be attributed to differing macroeconomic conditions. Moreover, we argue that it is advisable for governments to collect more data on aspects that presumably influence the well-being of society. For example, it is highly probable that reliable data on regional income inequality would lead to severalimportant and influential studies. This, in turn, can help to design indicators for those characteristics which are known for affecting SWB. In total, we do not perceive any fundamental caveat for using data on SWB in order to measure welfare directly, at least within culturally and linguistically homogenous regions. To reduce statistical uncertainty, however, it would be helpful to include subjective information of this kind into larger cross-sectional surveys such as common census data. |
| Keywords: | social welfare, subjective well-being, unemployment, economic growth |
| JEL: | R10 I31 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rsw:rswwps:rswwps196&r=hap |
| By: | Liliana Fernandes (Faculdade de Economia e Gestão - Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto); Américo Mendes (Faculdade de Economia e Gestão - Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto); Aurora Teixeira (Faculdade de Economia - Universidade do Porto) |
| Abstract: | Assessing child well-being through composite summary indexes is one of the most recent developments regarding child well-being measurement. Using a new index that takes into account the children’s own perspectives, this paper presents empirical evidence on the main determinants of overall child well-being. Econometric estimations, based on a sample of 1246 children enrolled in the 3rd to 6th grades of schools located in the Northern region of Portugal, convey two main results: 1) the parents’ educational background and professional status, in particular, an unemployed father, are the most important factors affecting child well-being; 2) children from households with double or foreign nationality are worse off than those with Portuguese nationality. These results support the positive role of policies targeting the qualifications and employment opportunities for parents, as well as the need for inclusive policies for immigrant households as a way to improve their children’s well-being. |
| Keywords: | child well-being, measurement, child indicators, empirical testing |
| JEL: | I31 I32 |
| Date: | 2012–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cap:wpaper:022012&r=hap |
| By: | Jérôme Silva; Femke de Keulenaer; Nick Johnstone |
| Abstract: | Environmental conditions are likely to have an effect on people’s sense of life satisfaction, both directly and indirectly. In recent years there has been a burgeoning literature assessing the relationship between measures of environmental quality and subjective well-being. This type of studies can be a useful input into the setting of policy priorities. In this paper, the effects of individual and contextual factors on satisfaction with environmental quality and life satisfaction are assessed, using micro-data from a broad cross-section of OECD and non-OECD countries collected in the framework of the Gallup World Poll. In the analysis it is found that actual and perceived environmental quality has a significant effect on life satisfaction, with the magnitude being approximately half that of self-reported health status.<BR>Les conditions environnementales peuvent affecter, directement et indirectement, la satisfaction individuelle. Durant les dernières années s’est développée une littérature économique explorant les relations entre mesures de la qualité de l’environnement et mesures du bien-être subjectif des populations. Les travaux de ce type peuvent être utiles dans l’élaboration des priorités politiques. Nous explorons dans cet article les effets des facteurs individuels et contextuels sur la satisfaction par rapport à la qualité de l’environnement et au bien être subjectif, en utilisant des données individuelles collectées par Gallup au sein d’un large panel de pays membres et non-membres de l’OCDE. L’analyse montre que la qualité de l’environnement a un effet significatif sur la satisfaction individuelle, dont la magnitude est d’environ la moitié de celle de l’effet de la santé subjective. |
| Keywords: | subjective well-being, air pollution, local environmental quality, life satisfaction, bien-être subjectif, pollution de l’air, qualité de l’environnement, satisfaction individuelle |
| JEL: | D60 Q51 Q53 |
| Date: | 2012–03–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:envaaa:44-en&r=hap |
| By: | Alex Bryson; Francis Green; Bridges, S.; Craig, R. |
| Abstract: | This paper presents measures of subjective well-being in England using a specially designed module of the 2010 Health Survey for England. It also looks at the relationship between well-being and labour market status, and, among those who are working, considers how well-being is associated with aspects of job quality. |
| Date: | 2012–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nsr:niesrd:387&r=hap |
| By: | Alex Bryson; Bockerman, P.; Ilmakunnas, P. |
| Abstract: | Employees exposed to high involvement management (HIM) practices have higher subjective wellbeing, fewer accidents but more short absence spells than “like” employees not exposed to HIM. These results are robust to extensive work, wage and sickness absence history controls. We present a model which highlights the possibility of higher short-term absence in the presence of HIM because it is more demanding than standard production and because multi-skilled HIM workers cover for one another’s short absences thus reducing the cost of replacement labour faced by the employer. We find direct empirical support for the assumptions in the model. Consistent with the model, because long-term absences entail replacement labour costs for HIM and non-HIM employers alike, long-term absences are independent of exposure to HIM. |
| Date: | 2011–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nsr:niesrd:380&r=hap |