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on Economics of Happiness |
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Issue of 2016‒05‒21
eight papers chosen by |
| By: | Andres Felipe Hoyos Martin |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this dissertation is to measure well-being in South American countries based on equivalent incomes. This measure of well-being has a multidimensional approach, and it respects preferences between individuals. We calculate equivalent incomes of individuals, using the Gallup World Poll in 2007 for six countries: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Peru. Additionally, we aggregate by country equivalent incomes as well as incomes and life satisfaction level, through a specific social welfare index with different grades of inequality aversion. We find some differences between country rankings made by incomes and equivalent incomes in spite of their strong correlation at individual level; in addition, the results present no correlations between equivalent incomes and life satisfaction level, as expected. The greatest difference in rankings is presented by Chile, which changes from the first in per capita income ranking, to the fourth in equivalent incomes ranking. Adopting equivalent incomes (based in multiple life dimensions and individual preferences) and introducing different inequality aversion parameters in the analysis lead us to better understand the well-being in Latin America. |
| Keywords: | Equivalent Incomes, Well-being, Latin America, Preference Heterogeneity |
| JEL: | I31 C25 D63 |
| Date: | 2015–12–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000495:014570&r=hap |
| By: | Sophie Cetre; Andrew E. Clark; Claudia Senik |
| 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 |
| Date: | 2016–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpm:docweb:1604&r=hap |
| By: | Joachim Merz (LEUPHANA Universität Lüneburg); Tim Rathjen (LEUPHANA Universität Lüneburg) |
| Abstract: | Entrepreneurs and freelancers, the self-employed, commonly are characterized as not only to be relatively rich in income but also as to be rich in time because of their time-sovereignty in principle. Our introducing study scrutinises these results and notions about the well-being situation of self-employed persons not only by asking about traditional single income poverty but also by considering time poverty within the framework of a new interdependent multidimensional (IMD) poverty concept. The German Socio-economic panel with satisfaction data serves as the data base for the population wide evaluation of the substitution/compensation between genuine, personal leisure time and income. The available detailed Time Use Surveys of 1991/92 and 2001/2 of the Federal Statistics Office provide the data to quantify the multidimensional poverty in all the IMD poverty regimes. Important result: self-employed with regard to single income poverty, single time poverty and interdependent multidimensional time and income poverty in both years are much more affected by time and income poverty than all other active persons defining the working poor. A significant proportion of non-income-poor but time poor of the active population are not able to compensate their time deficit even by an above poverty income. These people are neglected so far within the poverty and well-being discussion, the discussion about the “working poor” and in the discussion about time squeeze and time pressure in general and in particular for the self-employed as entrepreneurs and freelancers. |
| Keywords: | Liberal professions (Freie Berufe), entrepreneurs, self-employed, interdependent multidimensional time and income poverty, time and income substitution, extended economic well-being, satisfaction/happiness, CES welfare function estimation, working poor, German Socio-Economic Panel, German Time Use Surveys 1991/02 and 2001/02. |
| JEL: | D31 D13 J22 |
| Date: | 2016–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:inq:inqwps:ecineq2016-400&r=hap |
| By: | Raab, Roman |
| Abstract: | This paper addresses the question to what extent workplace perception affects subjective well-being of older workers in their jobs. We use several dimensions of workplace perception in order to estimate their importance for job-satisfaction. Our results show that older workers' happiness in the job strongly depends on opportunities to develop new skills, receiving support in difficult situations, and recognition for their work. These dimensions of workplace attributes are merely psychological by nature; in contrast, salary opportunities and socio-demographic dimensions do not appear to have a strong impact on job-satisfaction, if at all. |
| Keywords: | Working Conditions - Job-satisfaction; Related Public Policy - Non-wage Labor Costs and Benefits |
| JEL: | J28 J32 J81 |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:70917&r=hap |
| By: | Becchetti, Leonardo (Associazione Italiana per la Cultura della Cooperazione e del Non Profit); Corrado, Germana (Associazione Italiana per la Cultura della Cooperazione e del Non Profit); Pelligra, Vittorio (Associazione Italiana per la Cultura della Cooperazione e del Non Profit); Rossetti, Fiammetta (Associazione Italiana per la Cultura della Cooperazione e del Non Profit) |
| Abstract: | We investigate players’ preferences in a multiplayer prisoner’s dilemma by comparing results from a direct (satisfaction based) and an indirect (choice based) approach. Both approaches provide strong evidence of preference heterogeneity, with players who cooperate above median being less affected in their choice by monetary payoffs vis-à-vis the public good component. The combination of a legality frame plus a conformity information design reduces further the relative preference (satisfaction) for the non-cooperative choice for such players. Our findings support the hypothesis that (part of the) players have, in addition to the standard self-interest component, an other-regarding preference argument that is further satisfied in the legality frame plus conformity design. |
| Keywords: | Analysis of Collective Decision-Making; Corruption; Laboratoty Experiment; Legality Game; Redistribution; Conformity |
| JEL: | C92 D70 D73 H20 |
| Date: | 2016–02–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:aiccon:2016_145&r=hap |
| By: | AHU ERGEN (BAHCESEHIR UNIVERSITY) |
| Abstract: | Being healthy is an important aspect in life satisfaction. The factors that effect the health status of an individual are named as the environmental factors, economical factors, socio-cultural factors, genetic factors, access to health services and life style. Since it can be controlled by the individual, lifestyle is a topic with great importance. Healthy lifestyle is defined as “the individual’s control over her/his behaviors which can affect her/his health status and while orginising the daily activities, choosing the behaviors that are appropriate to her/his health status†. Healthy lifestyle behaviors are healthy nutrition, stress management, regular exercise, spiritual wellbeing, high quality interpersonal relations and taking the health responsibility. So, understanding the healthy lifestyle level and life satisfaction of individuals is important for health and education institutions, companies and governments to define their strategies accordingly. This quantitative study involves 205 Turkish individuals (students, academic staff and administrative staff) from a university in Istanbul. Data were obtained from self-administered questionnaires with 26 questions. The study examines the characteristics of the respondents regarding demographics, healthy lifestyle behaviors and life satisfaction. Some differences in sample’s healthy lifestyle dimensions were determined according to demographic variables after factor analysis, T-test, ANOVA and regression analysis. This research presents the opportunity for further qualitative research in healthy lifestyle habits among university students. |
| Keywords: | healthy lifestyle, life satisfaction, health status |
| JEL: | I31 I00 I19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:3605885&r=hap |
| By: | Paiboon Chaosuansreecharoen (Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Trang); Kannika Ruangdej Chaosuansreecharoen (Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Trang) |
| Abstract: | Aim: This study aimed to measure the quality of life (QoL) among elderly in strong elderly club of three southern border provinces and to identify its some determinant factors.Background: The insurgence of violence in three southern border provinces of Thailand that began in January 2004 is directly or indirectly affecting the lives of up to a million elderly living in Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala. The violence included bomb attacks and daily killings of state officials and local villagers. Currently, the violence has increased in complexity, frequency and severity. Thai Government is concerned with providing for sustained social welfare for the aging population. The government implemented a policy of elderly club in all sub-districts, places where older persons in the local area can gather and enjoy social activities. Thus, it is believed that the elderly club is one strategy to improve well-being among elderly living in three southern border provinces. Methods: This was cross-sectional survey of a random sample of members of strong elderly club in three southern border provinces. The constructively QoL was measured on economic, social, environmental, health, and attitudinal domain. The study participants were interviewed at their elderly clubs. Descriptive statistics were used in this study. The analytical procedure of stepwise multiple regressions were conducted to predict QoL determinant.Findings: The results revealed that elderly who were member of the strong elderly club in three southern border provinces showed high level of QoL (Economic domain = 54.4%, Social domain = 76.8%, Environmental domain = 97.6%, Health domain = 69.6%, Attitudinal domain = 94.4% and Total QoL = 86.8%). The stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that the best fit model included six predictors of frequency of elderly club participation, having money saving, social capital on social network component, life satisfaction and happiness, feeling of safety from violence and age. All six predictors could explain 59.9% of the variance of QoL. Of the six predictor variables, a stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that frequency elderly club participation was most strongly related to QoL. Age was negative associated with QoL.Implications: The result has shown that active members have higher QoL than non-active members. Thus, the community must recognize the value of nurturing the well-being of the elderly in order to maintain an active club that enhances the quality of life of the elderly in the three southern border provinces. |
| Keywords: | Quality of Life, Elderly Club, Three Southern Border Provinces of Thailand |
| JEL: | I00 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:3606107&r=hap |
| By: | Jana Å tofková (Žilinská univerzita v Žiline); Zuzana Å tofková (Žilinská univerzita v Žiline); Stanislav Å tofko (Žilinská univerzita v Žilne) |
| Abstract: | The concept of the measurement of quality of life is used to evaluate the general state of well-being of individual persons and society. The quality of life should not be exchanged with the concept of standard of living, which is primarily based on income. The objective quality of life issues are based on measurements of so called "hard data", i.e. data from institutions and organizations that include financial accounts, civil records, medical statistics, pollution and other information that are routinely collected. Subjective aspect of quality of life is evaluated on the degree of satisfaction with various items and needs. This is a category associated with subjective perceptions of their lives within a system of values and within certain social, economic and political conditions. Subjective indicators (feelings of happiness, satisfaction, etc.) are usually measured and evaluated on the basis of quantitative and qualitative research. Some results of the survey of quality of life are shown in this paper. Several results of a survey conducted point on the subjective perception for example safety and other factors. |
| Keywords: | quality of life, subjective aspect, survey |
| JEL: | I39 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:3606339&r=hap |