| By: |
Bertacchini, Enrico (University of Torino);
Bolognesi, Valentina (ISI Foundation);
Venturini, Alessandra (University of Turin);
Zotti, Roberto (University of Turin) |
| Abstract: |
This paper proposes a novel approach to explore the relationship between
cultural participation and subjective well-being. While most empirical
research has considered such a connection using cultural and leisure
activities individually or in additive terms, drawing from the sociological
literature, we adopt cultural consumption profiles emerging from the variety
and intensity of engagement in different cultural activities simultaneously.
Using data from the 2012 Italian Multipurpose survey on households "Aspects of
daily life", we first derive categories of cultural consumers through Latent
Class Analysis and investigate how heterogeneity in cultural profiles is
associated with overall life satisfaction and relevant domains (health,
leisure, friendship relations, job and economic conditions). The results of
our empirical analysis indicate a positive relationship between cultural
participation and overall life satisfaction. Still, a more complex picture
arises when considering all the statistically significant differences in life
and domain satisfaction across cultural consumption patterns. These findings
contribute to a better understanding of the role of cultural consumption
habits on individual well-being and have implications for culture-led welfare
policies. |
| Keywords: |
life satisfaction, subjective well-being, cultural consumption, cultural participation, cultural activities |
| JEL: |
I31 Z11 |
| Date: |
2021–09 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14749&r= |