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on Economics of Happiness |
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Issue of 2024‒10‒14
three papers chosen by Viviana Di Giovinazzo, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca |
| By: | Nduka, Eleanya (University of Warwick and UK Energy Research Centre); Jimoh, Modupe (University of Warwick and UK Energy Research Centre) |
| Abstract: | This study utilizes novel data to investigate the impact of cooking energy sources and indoor air pollution on the happiness, life satisfaction, physical, and mental health of women in Nigeria. The existing body of literature relies on ambient air pollution data, which can be limiting in resource-constrained settings. To address this gap, we employ a direct approach, measuring Carbon Monoxide (CO) levels in participants’ blood using the Rad-57 CO-oximeter. Our analysis reveals strong positive correlations between the utilization of clean cooking energy and women’s reported happiness and life satisfaction. Additionally, the study finds that clean cooking energy usage is associated with a significant reduction in mental health problems among women. These findings highlight a substantial disparity in wellbeing based on access to clean cooking energy sources. Furthermore, exposure to carbon monoxide, as measured in this study, demonstrates a detrimental effect on women’s health and overall well-being. Consequently, policymakers and stakeholders should prioritize initiatives that promote household energy access and facilitate the transition to clean cooking practices, especially in rural areas where the use of polluting fuels and exposure to indoor air pollution remain prevalent concerns. |
| Keywords: | Air pollution ; Clean Cooking ; Dirty Cooking ; Energy ; Health ; Happiness ; Mental health ; Well-being ; Women; Poverty. |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wrk:warwec:1515 |
| By: | Battaglia, Fabio |
| Abstract: | Gross domestic product (GDP) is frequently used as a proxy for well-being. Such use of GDP is problematic for many reasons, for GDP excludes activities that contribute to well-being and includes others that have a negative impact instead. As a result, a vast array of metrics has been developed to complement or replace it and put well-being at the heart of policymaking. Nonetheless, previous research has shown that their use and impact on policymaking has been limited. This article examines the use and impact of well-being metrics according to their own developers and intended users in the crucial cases of Scotland and Italy, focusing specifically on the two countries' official well-being frameworks. Despite being at the forefront of the well-being debate, both countries have never been studied in this regard before. This article fills this gap, collating views from more than 100 stakeholders, including statisticians, members of interest groups, policymakers and journalists. Findings show that the vast majority of informants could not cite any examples of cases in which either framework impacted on policymaking, or in which they themselves had used these. In some cases, this was due to them not being aware of what such frameworks were in the first place. Those who could identify some examples were those who were or used to be part of the government. Examples would, however, tend to be vague, in some instances remarkable yet merely anecdotal, and still in others the result of an ‘ex-post rationalisation’. |
| Keywords: | GDP; Italy; policymaking; Scotland; use and impact of frameworks; well-being |
| JEL: | N0 |
| Date: | 2024–09–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:124638 |
| By: | Luis Ayala (UNED); Olga Canto (Universidad de Alcala); Rosa Martinez (UNED); Carolina Navarro (UNED); Marina Romaguera-de-la-Cruz (UNED) |
| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to propose a set of dimensions and indicators to measure the incidence and trends of unmet social needs related to well-being and aggregate them into a composite index. We contribute to the current literature on the measurement of social needs through broader and more systematic indicators based on the principles of access, quality, and equity. Using different microdata sources, we take a selected sample of European countries that are representative of different welfare regimes to illustrate the possibilities of this proposal. Our results are not very sensitive to the use of different weighting schemes or aggregation methods and show that the degree of unmet needs is related to the country's type of welfare regime. |
| Keywords: | unmet social needs, composite index, Europe, welfare regimes |
| JEL: | I31 I32 I38 |
| Date: | 2024–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:inq:inqwps:ecineq2024-677 |