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on Economics of Happiness |
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Issue of 2025–05–05
three papers chosen by Viviana Di Giovinazzo, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca |
| By: | O'Connor, Kelsey J. (STATEC Research – National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies) |
| Abstract: | The immigrant population increased by 32 million in 37 European countries from 1990-2019. Much of this movement was internal, from east to west Europe. Although both the destination and origin countries could be affected, we find no effects on aggregate subjective well-being in either group, using country-panel and instrumental variable techniques. Immigrants, in contrast, experienced increased well-being, converted to monetary terms, in excess of £25, 000 per person. We offer more comprehensive evidence than previous studies, in terms of country and period, and by assessing the impacts on subjective well-being, which captures all of the important factors affected by immigration. |
| Keywords: | life satisfaction, migrants, emigration, immigration, subjective well-being, Europe |
| JEL: | I31 J15 F22 |
| Date: | 2025–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17816 |
| By: | Raquel Fonseca; Ana I. Moro-Egido |
| Abstract: | The study investigates how proximity influences social income comparisons and their impact on well-being, using data from the Spanish Survey of Household Finances (2002-2017). It finds that static comparisons with significantly richer individuals negatively affect well-being, while dynamic comparisons improve well-being when individuals surpass previously wealthier peers. The effects are moderated by the degree of proximity, with significant impacts only observed when income differences are substantial. The research highlights the complex interplay between envy, pride, and signaling effects in shaping subjective well-being. L'étude examine comment la proximité influence les comparaisons de revenus sociaux et leur impact sur le bien-être, en utilisant les données de l'enquête espagnole sur les finances des ménages : Spanish Survey of Household Finances (2002-2017). Elle constate que les comparaisons statiques avec des individus significativement plus riches affectent négativement le bien-être, tandis que les comparaisons dynamiques améliorent le bien-être lorsque les individus dépassent des pairs auparavant plus riches. Les effets sont modérés par le degré de proximité, avec des impacts significatifs uniquement observés lorsque les différences de revenus sont substantielles. La recherche met en lumière l'interaction complexe entre l'envie, la fierté et les effets de signalisation dans la formation du bien-être subjectif. |
| Keywords: | static and dynamic relative hypotheses, income, proximity, well-being, hypothèses relatives statiques et dynamiques, revenu, proximité, bien-être |
| JEL: | C29 D31 I31 |
| Date: | 2025–04–25 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cir:cirwor:2025s-10 |
| By: | GIRARDI, Daniele; GRAU, Nicolas; VENEZIANI, Roberto; YOSHIHARA, Naoki |
| Abstract: | This paper provides a novel axiomatic analysis of exploitation as the unequal exchange of labour, derives an empirical exploitation index at the individual level, and estimates its distribution in the US in 1975-2022. We show that, among possible definitions of exploitation, only one satisfies a small set of formally weak and normatively salient axioms. From this definition, we derive an individual-level exploitation intensity index which provides a new measure of well-being and inequality, complementary to existing ones and able to jointly take into account the distributions of income and work time. In US data, exploitation intensity provides additional information compared with standard income inequality measures and predicts important well-being and political outcomes. Inequality in exploitation increased more than income inequality since 1975. |
| JEL: | D63 D5 |
| Date: | 2025–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hit:hituec:765 |