| Abstract: |
Since 1972 the General Social Survey (GSS) has asked a representative sample
of US adults "[are] you very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?" Overall,
the population is reasonably happy even after a mild recent decline. I focus
on differences along standard socio demographic dimensions: age, race, gender,
education, marital status income and geography. I also explore political and
social differences. Being married is the most important differentiator with a
30-percentage point happy-unhappy gap over the unmarried. Income is also
important, but Easterlin's (1974) paradox applies: the rich are much happier
than the poor at any moment, but income growth doesn't matter. Education and
racial differences are also consequential, though the black-white gap has
narrowed substantially. Geographic, gender and age differences have been
relatively unimportant, though old-age unhappiness may be emerging.
Conservatives are distinctly happier than liberals as are people who trust
others or the Federal government. All above differences survive control for
other differences. |
| Keywords: |
happiness, demographics, family, Easterlin paradox, education, income, social capital, political ideology |