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on Economics of Happiness |
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Issue of 2024‒01‒08
twelve papers chosen by |
| By: | Michael Fritsch; Alina Sorgner; Michael Wyrwich |
| Abstract: | We propose an extension of the standard occupational choice model to analyze the life satisfaction of senior entrepreneurs as compared to paid employees and particularly retirees in Germany. The analysis identifies income and health status as main factors that shape the relationship between occupational status and life satisfaction. Senior entrepreneurs enjoy higher levels of life satisfaction than retirees and senior paid employees. This higher life satisfaction is mainly due to their higher income. Physical and mental health play a crucial role in determining both an individual’s occupational status and their overall life satisfaction. We find that senior self-employed report to be healthier compared to other groups of elderly individuals. However, when controlling for health, retirees exhibit an even higher level of life satisfaction compared to their self-employed counterparts. Heterogeneity analysis of various types of senior entrepreneurs and senior paid employees confirms this general pattern. In addition, we find some evidence indicating that senior entrepreneurs may compromise their leisure time, a main asset of retired individuals. Implications for research, policy, and practitioners are discussed. |
| Keywords: | Senior entrepreneurship, health conditions, well‐being, life satisfaction, age |
| JEL: | L26 I31 J10 D91 |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp1196&r=hap |
| By: | Alexander Bertermann; Daniel A. Kamhöfer; Hannah Schildberg-Hörisch |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the causal effect of education on life satisfaction, exploring effect heterogeneity along employment status. We use exogenous variation in compulsory schooling requirements and the build-up of new, academically more demanding schools, shifting educational attainment along the entire distribution of schooling. Leveraging plant closures and longitudinal information, we also address the endogeneity of employment status. We find a positive effect of education on life satisfaction for employed individuals, but a negative one for those without a job. We propose an aspiration-augmented utility function as a unifying explanation for the asymmetric effect of education on life satisfaction. |
| Keywords: | Education, Life satisfaction, Employment status, Compulsory schooling reforms, School openings, Instrumental variable estimation |
| JEL: | I26 I31 C26 |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp1192&r=hap |
| By: | Ooms, Tahnee; Klaser, Klaudijo; Ishkanian, Armine |
| Abstract: | Well-being economies develop policies at the intersection of health and socio-economic inequalities. These policies are often informed by data-driven approaches, such as quality-of-life indicators. However, despite great efforts in measurement, it is known that the perspectives of underserved and unhealthy populations are not always fully captured. This raises the question to what extent well-being economy policies, informed by data alone, can adequately improve well-being for all. In this paper we investigate the potential of academia practice partnerships (AcPrac) in facilitating transfer and production of knowledge and skills between researchers and practitioners (including decision makers, governments, and communities) to create well-being policies informed by both data and people. We use bibliometric analysis to visualise the current state of knowledge on AcPrac. We find that 1) the health field has made the largest scientific contribution in this area, 2) cross-fertilization, which is at the heart of the well-being economy approach, is starting to take place between health and social sciences, and 3) concerns for equity are a shared value underlying transdisciplinary partnerships for well-being. Our findings contribute to understanding the role of AcPrac in advancing well-being economies and informing policy, but further research is needed to draw conclusions about its effectiveness. |
| Keywords: | academia practice partnerships; bibliometric analysis; equity; health policy; review; well-being economy |
| JEL: | I30 I18 |
| Date: | 2023–12–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:120561&r=hap |
| By: | Neugebauer, Martin (University of Mannheim); Patzina, Alexander (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg); Dietrich, Hans (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg); Sandner, Malte (Technische Hochschule Nürnberg) |
| Abstract: | How much did young people suffer from the COVID-19 pandemic? A growing number of studies address this question, but they often lack a comparison group that was unaffected by the pandemic, and the observation window is usually short. Here, we compared the 2-year development of life satisfaction of German high school students during COVID-19 (N = 2, 698) with the development in prepandemic cohorts (N = 4, 834) with a difference-in-differences design. We found a decline in life satisfaction in winter 2020/2021 (Cohen's d = -0.40) that was approximately three times stronger than that in the general population and persisted until winter 2021/2022. Young people found some restrictions particularly burdensome, especially travel restrictions, bans on cultural events, and the closure of bars/clubs. |
| Keywords: | COVID-19, well-being, causal analysis, pandemic, adolescents, Germany |
| JEL: | I31 I18 J24 |
| Date: | 2023–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16636&r=hap |
| By: | Osea Giuntella; Johannes König; Luca Stella |
| Abstract: | This study explores the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and workers’ well-being and mental health using longitudinal survey data from Germany (2000-2020). We construct a measure of individual exposure to AI technology based on the occupation in which workers in our sample were first employed and explore an event study design and a difference-in-differences approach to compare AI-exposed and non-exposed workers. Before AI became widely available, there is no evidence of differential pre-trends in workers’ well-being and concerns about their economic futures. Since 2015, however, with the increasing adoption of AI in firms across Germany, we find that AI-exposed workers have become less satisfied with their life and job and more concerned about job security and their personal economic situation. However, we find no evidence of a significant impact of AI on workers’ mental health, anxiety, or depression. |
| Keywords: | Artificial Intelligence, Future of Work, Well-being, Mental Health |
| JEL: | I10 J28 O30 |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp1194&r=hap |
| By: | Inessa Love (University of Hawaii); Boris Nikolaev (Colorado State University); Chandra Dhakal (Royal Thimphu College, Bhutan) |
| Abstract: | We present new evidence on the well-being of women entrepreneurs using data from the World Values Survey for 80 countries. We find that in low- and middle-income countries, female entrepreneurs have lower well-being than male entrepreneurs, while in high-income countries, they have higher well-being. We further explore several macro and micro-level mechanisms-- institutional context, gender roles, and individual characteristics--that potentially moderate this relationship. We find that the gender gap in well-being is larger in countries with higher gender inequality, lower level of financial development, and stricter adherence to sexist gender roles. We also find that women entrepreneurs with lower education, more children, and risk-averse preferences are likely to report lower well-being. Our results suggest several policy mechanisms that can be used to enhance the well-being of women entrepreneurs. |
| Keywords: | well-being, women entrepreneurs, institutions, entrepreneurship |
| JEL: | M13 I31 J24 |
| Date: | 2023–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hai:wpaper:202303&r=hap |
| By: | Florence Allard-Poesi (IRG - Institut de Recherche en Gestion - UPEM - Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée - UPEC UP12 - Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12); Lorena B.S. Matos (IRG - Institut de Recherche en Gestion - UPEC UP12 - Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 - Université Gustave Eiffel); Justine Massu (IRG - Institut de Recherche en Gestion - UPEC UP12 - Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 - Université Gustave Eiffel) |
| Abstract: | A growing amount of research shows a positive association between urban nature and urban residents' psychological and physical well-being and quality of life. With its focus on specific dimensions of well-being and reliance either on large-scale objective data sets or experimental and comparative designs, prior research does not explicitly address the relationships between the various types of urban nature as experienced by citizens and their overall well-being. The present research proposes a model for the potential influence of the perceptions of the type and characteristics of nature close to urban residences and citizens' well-being via their frequency of exposure to, and their activities in, nature. Using WHOQOL-26 as a measure of well-being and constructing or adapting measurements for the other variables, a questionnaire was designed and administered among a sample of 2, 500 French urban residents. Psychometric tests, structural equation modeling, and mediation analyses were conducted on the collected data. The results show that: (1) The perceived characteristics of nature near urban residences have both direct and indirect influences on the psychological, physical, environmental, and resources-related dimensions of citizens' well-being; (2) Less domesticated nature—forests, fields, and scrubland—contributes to psychological well-being by favoring light or calm activities in nature, and to physical well-being by supporting exposure to nature. Such wilder nature is also positively associated with the perceived quality of urban residences; (3) Small spots of nature, located close to one's residence—a balcony, a patio, or a roof garden—make a similar but smaller contribution to well-being; (4) Domesticated nature—city gardens and parks—contribute marginally to the physical and resources-related dimensions of well-being. These results complement past research on the perceived characteristics of nature by showing how nature, as experienced by urban citizens, refers to different vegetation spaces. They also invite urban planners and policymakers to acknowledge the positive association between "wilder" natural spaces and well-being. |
| Keywords: | Quality of life, structural equation modeling, urban green areas, urban nature, quality of life, well-being, WHOQOL-26 |
| Date: | 2022–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03599664&r=hap |
| By: | Stephan, Gesine (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany ; FAU); Hetschko, Clemens (University of Leeds); Schmidtke, Julia (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany); Lawes, Mario (FU Berlin); Eid, Michael (FU Berlin); Schöb, Ronnie (FU Berlin) |
| Abstract: | "A large number of studies analyze the effects of unemployment on well-being (for an overview, see e.g. Suppa 2021). However, these are usually not based on high-frequency data and mostly only collect data on selected dimensions of well-being. As part of a DFG-funded project, the "German Job Search Panel" (GJSP) invited registered jobseekers to take part in a monthly survey about their well-being from 2017 to 2021. The survey was conducted using an innovative smartphone app. Participants were also invited to send in hair samples to measure the cortisol concentration in their hair, which is an established biomarker for the stress levels. On this basis, it is possible to examine in a very differentiated way how critical life events - as unemployment entry - affect well-being. The target group for the survey comprised of people who initially registered as job seekers. A central goal of the project was to investigate the effects of entering unemployment on the various facets of well-being. Only a portion of individuals who register as job seekers actually become unemployed. This provides a natural comparison group for individuals who become unemployed. It is especially true for individuals who have been affected by mass layoffs and plant closures, as the likelihood of job loss depends primarily on external factors and less strongly on characteristics of these individuals. In total, almost 1, 900 people initially took part in a first cohort and almost 1, 000 people in a second cohort of the GJSP. Two method reports describe the data collection procedures in detail (Hetschko et al. 2022, Schmidtke et al. 2023). Among other things, the GJSP makes it possible to examine the immediate effects of entering unemployment among individuals previously registered as looking for work. As the findings of a first subproject (Lawes et al. 2023) show, unemployment had immediate negative effects on satisfaction with household income. For individuals who registered as job seekers due to mass layoffs, life satisfaction also declined immediately when entering unemployment. In contrast, when individuals became unemployed for other reasons, satisfaction with leisure increased upon entry into unemployment, and life satisfaction declined only as time progressed. In contrast, other dimensions of well-being did not significantly change with the onset of unemployment. By repeatedly measuring hair cortisol, another subproject (Lawes et al. 2022) examined for the first time how job search affects a biomarker of chronic stress. Cortisol levels were highest shortly after job search notification - a time of high uncertainty about the future employment career. Subsequently, hair cortisol decreased - regardless of whether individuals actually became unemployed. In addition, individuals who had already been unemployed for a longer period of time had higher hair cortisol concentrations when they assessed their chances of re-employment as poor instead of good. Thus, physical stress is triggered by unemployment only when people assume that their reemployment opportunities are low. Finally, Schmidtke et al. (2023) showed in another subproject that the Covid19 pandemic had only mild and transitory effects on overall life satisfaction. In contrast, respondents' mental health was more severely affected. In particular, this is evident for people in short-time work. However, certain adaptation effects were evident: the second wave had a smaller impact on life satisfaction and mental health than the first wave." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en)) |
| Keywords: | IAB-Open-Access-Publikation ; IAB-Datensatz German Job Search Panel |
| Date: | 2023–12–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iab:iabfob:202319&r=hap |
| By: | d'Albis, Hippolyte; Perona, Mathieu; Senik, Claudia |
| Abstract: | Crise de la quarantaine, crise de la cinquantaine, les mots varient pour décrire ce phénomène que les anglophones qualifient de midlife crisis. Cet épisode de mal-être et de doute existe-t-il vraiment ? Le bien-être suit-il une trajectoire en forme de U au cours de la vie ? Cette question divise économistes et psychologues. La présente note montre que, sans être fausse, cette idée est réductrice. Il y a bien, en général, une baisse de la satisfaction de vie entre 25 et 40 ans et un léger rebond autour de la soixantaine. Certaines dimensions, comme la satisfaction à l’égard du niveau de vie, suivent une trajectoire en U très marquée. Toutefois, cette dynamique ne caractérise pas l’ensemble des dimensions du bien-être, notamment le sentiment de faire quelque chose qui a du sens. |
| Keywords: | Wellbeing, U-shape, bien-être, midlife crisis |
| Date: | 2023–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpm:notobe:2314&r=hap |
| By: | Khanh Duong; Nguyen Phuc Van |
| Abstract: | In a global context, per-capita income disparities between countries persistently widen, while internal income inequality in most nations continues to increase. Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz argues that such inequality is a result of deliberate political decisions. However, inequality transcends mere political constructs, being influenced by natural and societal laws. For instance, research by Scheffer et al. reveals intriguing parallels between species abundance in the Amazon and human societal structures, while Fuchs and Thurner's study aligns inequality levels in the virtual economy of Pardus with those observed in Sweden and the United Kingdom, suggesting non-political factors in shaping inequality. This multidisciplinary examination reveals that inequality is not solely a product of political choice. Economically, inequality can stimulate short-term growth through increased physical capital, such as savings. However, it also potentially reduces human capital and hinder long-term prosperity. Sociologically, inherited inequality is seen as unjust, yet the principle of fairness - rewarding greater effort - often trumps equality. Anthropologically, hunter-gatherer societies' egalitarianism diminished with increased production and the emergence of economic competition. Rogers et al.'s findings indicate an existential advantage in hierarchical societies over egalitarian ones. Thus, inequality is partly an outcome of natural and societal dynamics. This study underscores the critical role of politics in managing inequality. In modern democracies, the political system is responsible for addressing free-market generated inequalities. This involves striving for an 'optimal inequality, ' guided by models like the Boltzmann distribution, to balance stability and inclusiveness. Different distribution patterns can yield diverse societal happiness levels, even under similar inequality and external conditions. This study concludes that an ideal democracy supporting the less privileged enhances societal happiness. Nonetheless, efforts to mitigate inequality face challenges from democratic system flaws, ethical dilemmas, and information disparities between rich and poor. |
| Keywords: | wealth inequality, socioeconomic inequality, optimal inequality, fairness |
| JEL: | D63 P16 Z13 |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:1352&r=hap |
| By: | Bellaumay, Rémy |
| Abstract: | Quand on pense à l’émigration, pense-t-on partir pour un pays riche ou pour un pays heureux ? Si à l’échelle internationale, les deux vont souvent de pair, l’enquête mondiale Gallup World Poll, qui pose des questions sur les aspirations d’émigration, permet de montrer que les deux éléments jouent sans se confondre : les pays ayant une plus grande satisfaction de vie moyenne exercent un attrait au-delà de leur richesse et de leur proximité historique avec les pays d’origine. Quand on passe des aspirations intentions plus fermes, les plans d’émigration dans l’année à venir, les contraintes réglementaires et géographiques viennent modifier, mais pas chambouler, les classements, indiquant la force d’attraction d’une possibilité de vie meilleure. La réalité des flux atteste de la puissance des barrières à l’immigration, qui redirigent nombre de migrants vers des pays qui n’étaient pas leurs pays d’aspiration. Une fois dans le pays d’accueil, la satisfaction des immigrés est en moyenne plus faible que celle des personnes nées sur place, mais le classement des pays est le même, que l’on considère le critère de leur satisfaction ou celui des natifs. |
| Keywords: | Bien-être, Wellbeing, Migration |
| Date: | 2023–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpm:notobe:2316&r=hap |
| By: | GÓMEZ-GONZÁLEZ Emilio; GOMEZ Emilia (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | This report provides a state of the art of the current and near-future applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medicine, healthcare and well-being, building on previous analyses, and framed in recent historical circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The present analysis includes software, personal monitoring devices, genetic tests and editing tools, personalized digital models, online platforms, augmented reality devices, and surgical and companion robotics. It identifies the particularities of AI systems, the opportunities and risks associated to them, as well as its social impact, considering their maturity, availability, controversy, and sustainability. From this review, the report identifies 100 relevant topics, and discusses lessons learnt in the area from the mentioned historical circumstances. In addition, the present study recognizes five key expanding areas with particular significance in terms of social impact: AI tools for mental health, AI-mediated gene editing, AI tools for epidemiology and health data monitoring, AI-mediated neuro-technologies and AI-mediated inclusion of neurodiversity, and describes them in detail considering the proposed social assessment scales. We conclude with some science for policy challenges in the field. |
| Date: | 2023–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc134715&r=hap |