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on Economics of Happiness |
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Issue of 2014‒08‒28
eight papers chosen by |
| By: | Christian Krekel; Marie L. Poprawe |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the effect of local crime on well-being in Germany, using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) and a novel data set constructed from official police crime statistics, covering both counties and urban districts for the time period between 1994 and 2012. We find that local area crime has a significantly negative impact on life satisfaction, makes residents worry more frequently, and worry more about crime in Germany. In particular, a 1% increase in the crime frequency ratio results in a 0.043 standard deviation decrease in life satisfaction. This effect is driven almost exclusively by violent crimes, while property crimes and other crimes have no significant impact on well-being. |
| Keywords: | Crime, well-being, Germany |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp678&r=hap |
| By: | Michaël GOUJON (University of Auvergne); Mathilde CLOSSET (FERDI); Sosso FEINDOUNO (Ferdi) |
| Abstract: | Human capital, a broad concept including education and health, plays a central role in economic development and human well-being. As a consequence, low human capital became one of the three criteria used by the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (UN-CDP) for identifying Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Since 1991, the UN-CDP has used a composite index to measure human capital at the country level. In 2003 this index was reshaped and was renamed the Human Assets Index (HAI) (see UN-CDP webpage on LDCs, and Guillaumont, 2009). |
| JEL: | I31 I32 |
| Date: | 2014–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fdi:wpaper:1775&r=hap |
| By: | Tindara Addabbo; Elena Sarti; Dario Sciulli |
| Abstract: | During the last decades, the socio-economic policy agenda has devoted an increasing attention to the inclusion of disabled people into society. Understanding the drivers of life outcomes and conditions of disabled people is essential to analyze the sources of disadvantaged positions. This paper brings evidence on the predictors of life satisfaction of disabled people in Italy, focusing on four specific dimensions (relations with relatives and friends, economic conditions, and leisure time) and analyzing information on people with functional limitations and health problems, as provided by the 2011 ISTAT survey. Estimation results show that household structure, health and disability status affect life satisfaction more significantly than personal and income variables. Education attainments significantly affect satisfaction with the economic conditions. Finally, we find that older disabled people are, on average, more satisfied than younger disabled people, while gender is relevant when interacted with the household type. |
| Keywords: | disability, life satisfaction, non-linear response models, average partial effects |
| Date: | 2014–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gen:geneem:14021a&r=hap |
| By: | Asian Development Bank (ADB); (Economics and Research Department, ADB); ; |
| Abstract: | Guided by its philosophy of gross national happiness, Bhutan achieved strong growth during 1981–2011, and its per capita gross domestic product more than quintupled, with hydropower as the main growth driver. The government’s conscious efforts to invest in socioeconomic programs have helped reduce poverty in the country. Bhutan recognizes that it needs to continue its efforts to make growth resilient to external and internal factors. This report identifies the most critical constraints facing the economy and discusses policy options to assist the government in its endeavor to achieve strong, balanced, and resilient growth that is also inclusive. The report also highlights potential new drivers that can help complement Bhutan’s continuing efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable socioeconomic development. |
| Keywords: | Bhutan, economic development, inclusive growth, country diagnostics study, critical development constraints, gross national happiness, himalayas, hydropower development, South Asia, hydropower, Bhutan Five-Year Plan |
| Date: | 2013–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:asd:wpaper:rpt135653-2&r=hap |
| By: | Iyengar, Shreekant; Dholakia, Ravindra H. |
| Abstract: | Health performance of Gujarat viewed in terms of the Human Development Index (HDI) portrays it as a medium performer in the country. However, the index of health component for Gujarat is found to be positively contributing to the HDI ranking of the state. It is, therefore, crucial to review the status of health performance of Gujarat among the other states for improving its relative standing in human development. In this context the present paper attempts to identify the gaps in performance of the health related outcome, output and input indicators from the best performers in each indicator. Moreover, the paper also reviews the trends in health performance of Gujarat over time and also estimates the effectiveness of the state in converting its health inputs to outputs and outputs to outcomes. The results indicate that the outcome indicators have improved in the absolute sense but have high performance gaps except the maternal mortality rate (MMR). Majority of the output and input indicators, however, show poor absolute performance and high performance gaps that have been expanding over time. The effectiveness of conversion of health indicators in Gujarat suggests that while the state has moved above average in conversion of outputs into outcomes, it has moved at a slightly below average level in converting its inputs to outputs over time. Improving the health status of Gujarat requires targeted efforts in specific areas such as controlling neo-natal deaths, improving coverage of children under immunization and address malnourishment. Additionally, building adequate health infrastructure and employing required manpower are also relevant. |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iim:iimawp:12887&r=hap |
| By: | Dr Alex Bryson |
| Abstract: | The links between unionisation and job satisfaction remain controversial. In keeping with the existing literature we find strong statistically significant negative correlations between unionisation and overall job satisfaction. However, in contrast to the previous literature we find that once one accounts for fixed unobservable differences between covered and uncovered employees, union coverage is positively and significantly associated with satisfaction with pay and hours of work.� Failure to account for fixed unobservable differences between covered and uncovered employees leads to a systematic underestimate of the positive effects of coverage on job satisfaction for both union members and non-members.� It seems union coverage has a positive impact on job satisfaction that is plausibly causal.� |
| Date: | 2013–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nsr:niesrd:11606&r=hap |
| By: | Yekaterina Chzhen; UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates differences in the perceived impact of the economic crisis between adults in households with and without children in 17 European countries, using data from the Life in Transition Survey 2010. It also explores the channels through which the crisis affected adults in households with children and the ways in which they coped with the decline in income or economic activity. Overall, adults in households with children were more likely to report an impact of the crisis, with larger differences in countries with higher rates of monetary child poverty. There is evidence that adults in households with children prioritised expenditure on basic necessities, while cutting back on luxuries and holidays, but many still reported reduced consumption of staple foods as a result of economic difficulties. |
| Keywords: | children; economic crisis; |
| JEL: | I31 I32 J18 |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ucf:inwopa:inwopa725&r=hap |
| By: | Chris Dawson (University of Bath); Michail Veliziotis (University of the West of England, Bristol); Gail Pacheco (Auckland University of Technology); Don J Webber (University of the West of England, Bristol) |
| Abstract: | Mental health status often has a strong association with labour market outcomes. If people in temporary employment have poorer mental health than those in permanent employment then it is consistent with two mutually inclusive possibilities: temporary employment generates adverse mental health effects and/or individuals with poorer mental health select into temporary from permanent employment. We reveal that permanent workers with poor mental health appear to select into temporary employment thus signalling that prior cross sectional studies may overestimate the influence of employment type on mental health. We also reveal that this selection effect is significantly mitigated by job satisfaction. |
| Keywords: | Employment transitions; Psychological distress; Anxiety; Life satisfaction; Job satisfaction |
| JEL: | I12 I31 J23 |
| Date: | 2014–01–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uwe:wpaper:20141409&r=hap |