|
on Economics of Happiness |
|
Issue of 2012‒12‒22
six papers chosen by |
| By: | Virginia Maestri (AIAS, Universiteit van Amsterdam) |
| Abstract: | This paper evaluates the redistributive effect of a comprehensive set of housing-related policies, taking into account the housing advantage of homeowners and social tenants. We use the Euromod microsimulation model to simulate housing policies in Estonia, Italy and the United Kingdom. Disentangling the contribution to inequality and poverty of each housing-related policy, we find that the current design of property taxes is not progressive and that other housing policies have a limited impact on inequality in Estonia and on both inequality and relative poverty in Italy. In all three countries, housing-related policies favor the elderly. |
| Keywords: | Housing policies; Imputed rent; Inequality; Microsimulation JEL: H23; H53; I38 |
| Date: | 2012–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aia:ginidp:31&r=hap |
| By: | Ada Ferrer-i-carbonell (Campus U.A.B., Institut d'Anàlisi Econòmica, IAE(CSIC)); Ramos, X. (Xavier) |
| Abstract: | In recent years there has been an accumulation of empirical evidence suggesting that individuals dislike inequality (Alesina and Giuliano, 2011 and Dawes et al., 2007). The literature has built upon estimating the degree of this dislike as well as its causes. The use of self-reported measures of satisfaction or well-being as a proxy for utility has been one of the empirical strategies used to this end. In this survey we review the papers that estimate or examine the relationship between inequality and self-reported happiness, and find that inequality reduces happiness in Western societies. The evidence for non-Western societies is more mixed and less reliable. Notwithstanding that, trust in the institutions seems to play an important role in shaping the relationship between income inequality and subjective wellbeing. We conclude with suggestions for further research. |
| Date: | 2012–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aia:ginidp:38&r=hap |
| By: | Jessica Dye (Department of Economics, Auckland University of Technology); Stephanie Rossouw (Department of Economics, Auckland University of Technology); Gail Pacheco (Department of Economics, Auckland University of Technology) |
| Abstract: | As the first country to give women the right to vote in 1893, New Zealand (NZ) has often been viewed as a leader in the global movement towards gender equality. This paper aims to assess trends in overall well-being for NZ women, by pulling together a range of statistical indicators across five key facets of well-being: demographic and family changes, education, employment, health, and crime and violence. From our analysis two contrasting pictures emerge. The first is that NZ women are clearly making up ground in respect of their education, participation in the labour force (less so in terms of wage equality), and overall health outcomes (barring mental health issues, such as depression). In the second, however, NZ women are trailing behind their other developed nation counterparts when one considers crime and violence, both committed against and by them. |
| Keywords: | Gender equality, women's well-being |
| JEL: | I10 J10 |
| Date: | 2012–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aut:wpaper:201207&r=hap |
| By: | David Vázquez Guzman (Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez) |
| Abstract: | This paper establishes econometrically a clear connection between levels of happiness, health and cognition with their respective levels of income, using Mexican (MHAS) and English (ELSA) data. In general, elderly people increase their happiness with income, education, with a partner and when healthier, but decrease with unemployment and divorce. Mexican cognition ability and being indigenous impact negatively in happiness, but being white and more cognitive is better for the English. Physical health is better in both countries considering income, education, employment and mental health. A strong result is that depression and restlessness affect negatively physical health in general. English people seem to deteriorate health because of debts, but not the Mexicans. Elder Mexicans are severely punished in their health when living in consensual unions, but the English are the healthiest living under this family organization. Mental health, approximated with cognition ability, was the relationship with less significance. Divorcees in Mexico have more cognitive ability. Considering gender, we found happier men, but older and more cognitive women in general. |
| Keywords: | Well-being, elderly people, comparative studies, England, Mexico |
| JEL: | J14 J16 I10 I20 O57 |
| Date: | 2012–05–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cjz:ca41cj:9&r=hap |
| By: | Falco, Paolo (University of Oxford); Maloney, William F. (World Bank); Rijkers, Bob (World Bank); Sarrias, Mauricio (Universidad Catolica del Norte) |
| Abstract: | By exploiting recent advances in mixed (stochastic parameter) ordered probit estimators and a unique longitudinal dataset from Ghana, this paper examines the distribution of subjective wellbeing across sectors of employment and offers insights into the functioning of developing country labor markets. We find little evidence for the overall inferiority of the small firm informal sector: there is not a robust average satisfaction premium for formal work vis a vis self-employment or informal salaried work and, in fact, informal firm owners who employ others are on average significantly happier than formal workers. Moreover, the estimated underlying random parameter distributions unveil substantial latent heterogeneity in subjective wellbeing around the central tendency that fixed parameter models cannot detect. All job categories contain both relatively happy and disgruntled workers. Concretely, roughly 67%, 50%, 40% and 59% prefer being a small firm employer, sole proprietor, informal salaried, and civic worker respectively, to formal work. Hence, there is a high degree of overlap in the distribution of satisfaction across sectors. The results are robust to the inclusion of fixed effects, and using alternate measures of satisfaction. Job characteristics, self-perceived autonomy and experimentally elicited measures of attitudes toward risk do not appear to explain these distributional patterns. |
| Keywords: | subjective wellbeing, mixed ordered probit, self-employment, informality, developing country labor markets, Africa |
| JEL: | C35 J2 J3 J41 L26 I32 O17 |
| Date: | 2012–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7057&r=hap |
| By: | Nicolai Suppa |
| Abstract: | Using the capability approach as conceptual framework, the present study examines empirically the effect of job characteristics on subjective well-being. First, I suggest a measurement model for four latent job characteristics, using a confirmatory factor analysis. Then, I examine the job characteristics’ influence on life and job satisfaction, using Australian panel data. The results suggest that (i) the four latent job characteristics are valid constructs, (ii) favourable job characteristics increase life and job satisfaction significantly, (iii) job characteristics account for some of the unemployed’s dissatisfaction, and (iv) controlling for unobserved heterogeneity is crucial in such exercises. |
| Keywords: | Job characteristics; life satisfaction; capability approach; factor analysis |
| JEL: | I31 J20 D60 |
| Date: | 2012–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rwi:repape:0388&r=hap |