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on Economics of Happiness |
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Issue of 2016‒04‒30
five papers chosen by |
| By: | Cetre, Sophie (Paris School of Economics); Clark, Andrew E. (Paris School of Economics); Senik, Claudia (Paris School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | There is mixed evidence in the existing literature on whether children are associated with greater subjective well-being, with the correlation depending on which countries and populations are considered. We here provide a systematic analysis of this question based on three different datasets: two cross-national and one national panel. We show that the association between children and subjective well-being is positive only in developed countries, and for those who become parents after the age of 30 and who have higher income. We also provide evidence of a positive selection into parenthood, whereby happier individuals are more likely to have children. |
| Keywords: | happiness, fertility, children, income, selection |
| JEL: | D1 J13 |
| Date: | 2016–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp9880&r=hap |
| By: | Clark, Andrew E. (Paris School of Economics); Stancanelli, Elena G. F. (CNRS, Sorbonne Economics Research Center (CES)) |
| Abstract: | There is a small literature on the economic costs of terrorism. We consider the effects of the Boston marathon bombing on Americans' well-being and time allocation. We exploit data from the American Time Use Survey and Well-Being Module in the days around the terrorist attack to implement a regression-discontinuity design. The bombing led to a significant and large drop of about 1.5 points in well-being, on a scale of one to six, for residents of the States close to Boston. The happiness of American women also dropped significantly, by almost a point, regardless of the State of residence. Labor supply and other time use were not significantly affected. We find no well-being effect of the Sandy Hook shootings, suggesting that terrorism is different in nature from other violent deaths. |
| Keywords: | well-being, time use, Terrorism |
| JEL: | I31 J21 J22 F52 |
| Date: | 2016–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp9882&r=hap |
| By: | Amanda Geller (New York University); Kate Jaeger (Princeton University); Garrett Pace (Princeton University) |
| Abstract: | The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) is a nationally representative birth cohort study of approximately 4,900 children born in large U.S. cities between 1998 and 2000. Nonmarital childbearing increased dramatically in the second half of the 20th century, raising questions about the capabilities of unmarried parents, the nature of parental relationships and their implications for child health development and well being. The FFCWS has become a leading source of information about unmarried parents and their children, and about child health development more generally. The study contains biological and social indicators of children’s cognitive health development, as well as social determinants of health and children’s broader social environment. This rich measurement, coupled with a longitudinal design and multilevel structure make it an ideal resource for life course health development research. This chapter describes the demographic, scholarly and policy context in which the FFCWS was designed, as well as technical details that will enable new users to use the study effectively. We include details of sampling, data availability, variable structure and content, as well as features of the data that enable it to be used in longitudinal research. Finally, the chapter provides information about resources that will be available in the future, and institutional resources available for users of the data. |
| Date: | 2015–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pri:crcwel:wp15-02-ff&r=hap |
| By: | UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti |
| Abstract: | Ce Bilan présente une vue d’ensemble des inégalités de bien-être entre les enfants de 41 pays de l’Union européenne (UE) et de l’Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques (OCDE). Il se concentre sur les « inégalités dans la partie inférieure de la distribution », c’est-àdire l’écart entre les enfants du bas et ceux du milieu de la distribution, et cherche à savoir jusqu’où la société laisse se creuser le fossé entre les enfants en matière de revenus, d’éducation, de santé et de satisfaction dans la vie. Dans toute l’OCDE, la tendance a évolué depuis les années 1980 : ce sont désormais les jeunes, et non plus les personnes âgées, qui risquent le plus de tomber dans la pauvreté. Ces évolutions accentuent la nécessité de surveiller le bien-être des enfants les plus défavorisés ; en outre, les inégalités en matière de revenus ont des répercussions considérables sur la société, puisqu’elles ont un impact négatif sur la réussite scolaire, les principaux indicateurs dans le domaine de la santé, voire la croissance économique. Se soucier de l’équité et de la justice sociale implique de déterminer si l’écart entre les membres de la société est tel que certains s’en trouvent pénalisés, non seulement dans leur vie actuelle, mais aussi pour leur avenir3. Le présent Bilan pose les mêmes questions sous-jacentes que le Bilan 9 sur les inégalités de bienêtre entre les enfants, mais repose sur les données disponibles les plus récentes et inclut davantage de pays. |
| Keywords: | child poverty; child well-being; inequality; social inequality; |
| JEL: | I3 |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ucf:inreca:inreca833&r=hap |
| By: | Yekaterina Chzhen; Emilia Toczydlowska; Irene Moor; William Pickett; Gonneke Stevens; UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre |
| Abstract: | A large body of literature has established socio-economic gradients in adolescent health, but few studies have investigated the extent to which these gradients are associated with very poor health outcomes. The current analysis examined the extent to which the socio-economic background of adolescents relates to very poor self-reported health and well-being (the so-called ’bottom end’). We examined the following as indicators of adolescent health: psychosomatic health complaints; physical activity; healthy eating; unhealthy eating; and life satisfaction. Adolescents who scored below the mean of the lower half of the distribution of a given indicator fall in the “bottom group” on this indicator. The largest, most persistent and widespread socio-economic gradients are in life satisfaction, physical activity and healthy eating, while the findings are mixed for unhealthy eating and psychosomatic health. Socio-economic inequalities were largely stable, but in a sizeable minority of the countries, socio-economic inequalities in physical activity and healthy eating have widened between 2001/02 and 2013/14, while inequalities in unhealthy eating and life satisfaction have narrowed in several countries. |
| Keywords: | adolescent health; nutrition indicators; physical development; socio-economic background; |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ucf:inwopa:inwopa836&r=hap |