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on Economics of Happiness |
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Issue of 2025–09–08
three papers chosen by Viviana Di Giovinazzo, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca |
| By: | Fulvio Castellacci; Emil Evenhuis; Koen Frenken |
| Abstract: | The geography of innovation has focused on the roles of innovation for regional development understood in terms of income growth, productivity, and job creation. We propose a broader view on regional development using the framework of wellbeing developed in other disciplines. Following this perspective, we outline the possible roles and pathways through which innovation can contribute to well-being at various spatial scales and how, in turn, normative-political considerations regarding well-being provides directionality in innovation (policy) processes at spatial scales. |
| Keywords: | innovation, well-being, inequality, region, directionality |
| Date: | 2025–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:egu:wpaper:2529 |
| By: | Odunola Oladeji; Ilan Noy |
| Abstract: | For Africa, there is limited documented evidence on the impact of weather shocks on mental health. The expediency and need to understand this nexus motivate this study on the effect of extreme temperatures on self-reported mental health in South Africa. We combine district-level climate data with a nationally representative panel dataset from the National Income Dynamics Survey, which spans 2008 to 2017. Using a panel fixed-effects Poisson model, we observe that, overall, an additional cold day is associated with a reduced mental health score, while an additional cold night shows a positive relationship with mental health. However, delving into the seasonal intricacies of this relationship, the result shows that additional warm days are good for mental health in both winter and summer. In addition, warmer nights in the past 7 days during winter show a positive relationship with good mental health, while warmer nights for the same period during summer are detrimental to mental health. Our results also highlight the effect of temperature shocks on mental health components (such as depression, loneliness, etc.) and the contributions of factors such as age, exercise, and underlying health conditions to mental health outcomes. |
| Keywords: | climate change, mental health, wellbeing, weather shocks, temperature, South Africa |
| JEL: | I31 Q54 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12083 |
| By: | Ulep, Valerie Gilbert T.; Casas, Lyle Daryll D.; Manuel, Aaron Carlos G. |
| Abstract: | Violence against children has profound and lasting effects on physical and emotional well-being, educational outcomes, and economic productivity. In low- and middle-income countries such as the Philippines, limited longitudinal data hinders researchers from examining the medium- and long-term effects of early exposure to violence across a range of well-being outcomes. This paper describes the magnitude of parental violence in the Philippines and estimates its lasting effects on school enrollment and academic performance in mathematics, reading, and science among young Filipino adolescents using longitudinal data. Findings indicate that, after controlling for child demographic, cognitive, health, academic, and household socioeconomic factors, young Filipino adolescents who experience parental violence at age 10 (with a 39.5% prevalence) have 52–57 percent lower odds of attending school by age 14 compared to unexposed peers. When analyzed by sex, boys and girls exposed to parental violence at age 10 were 48 percent and 66 percent less likely, respectively, to be enrolled by age 14. Although academic performance in math, reading, and science indicates a negative trend among exposed adolescents, the associations were not statistically significant. This study highlights how early exposure to parental violence may disrupt school participation. While evidence on academic performance suggests an adverse impact, it is less conclusive. These findings align with child development theories that emphasize how violence at home undermines children's behavior and overall well-being, which in turn leads to poor educational outcomes. The results suggest the need for sustained implementation and expansion of nationwide, multisectoral early interventions to prevent violence in the home and support the long-term academic development and well-being of Filipino learners. Additionally, strengthening data collection through improved measures of violence and academic performance will better elucidate the relationship between early exposure to violence and educational outcomes. Comments to this paper are welcome within 60 days from the date of posting. Email publications@mail.pids.gov.ph. |
| Keywords: | parental violence;early adolescence;school enrollment;academic performance |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:dpaper:dp_2025-21 |