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Do we really know what makes us happy A review of the economic literature on the factors associated with subjective well-being

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Author Info
Dolan, Paul
Peasgood, Tessa
White, Mathew
Abstract

There is increasing interest in the "economics of happiness", reflected by the number of articles that are appearing in mainstream economics journals that consider subjective well-being (SWB) and its determinants. This paper provides a detailed review of this literature. It focuses on papers that have been published in economics journals since 1990, as well as some key reviews in psychology and important unpublished working papers. The evidence suggests that poor health, separation, unemployment and lack of social contact are all strongly negatively associated with SWB. However, the review highlights a range of problems in drawing firm conclusions about the causes of SWB; these include some contradictory evidence, concerns over the impact on the findings of potentially unobserved variables and the lack of certainty on the direction of causality. We should be able to address some of these problems as more panel data become available.

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File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V8H-4PPF62D-1/1/4808060335eb96a11fae0b2402eb0bc3
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Publisher Info
Article provided by Elsevier in its journal Journal of Economic Psychology.

Volume (Year): 29 (2008)
Issue (Month): 1 (February)
Pages: 94-122
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Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:29:y:2008:i:1:p:94-122

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  1. Eva M. Berger, 2009. "Maternal Employment and Happiness: The Effect of Non-Participation and Part-Time Employment on Mothers' Life Satisfaction," SOEPpapers 178, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. Russell Smyth & Ingrid Nielsen & Qingguo Zhai, 2009. "Personal Well-Being In Urban China," Development Research Unit Working Paper Series 01-09, Monash University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  3. Ingrid Nielsen & Olga Paritski & Russell Smyth, 2009. "Subjective Well-Being Of Beijing Taxi Drivers," Development Research Unit Working Paper Series 03-09, Monash University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  4. Paul Dolan & Robert Metcalfe, 2008. "Comparing Willingness-to-Pay and Subjective Well-Being in the Context of Non-Market Goods," CEP Discussion Papers dp0890, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE. [Downloadable!]
  5. Russell Smyth & Ingrid Nielsen & Qingguo Zhai & Tiemin Liu & Yin Liu & C.Y. Tang & Zhihong Wang & Zuxiang Wang & Juyong Zhang, 2008. "Environmental Surroundings And Personal Well-Being In Urban China," Monash Economics Working Papers 32/08, Monash University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  6. Adriana Castelli & Rowena Jacobs & Maria Goddard & Peter C Smith, 2009. "Exploring the impact of public services on quality of life indicators," Working Papers 046cherp, Centre for Health Economics, University of York. [Downloadable!]
  7. Anna M. Carabelli & Mario A. Cedrini, 2009. "The Economic Problem of Happiness. Keynes on Happiness and Economics," Working Papers 123, SEMEQ Department - Faculty of Economics - University of Eastern Piedmont. [Downloadable!]
  8. Nattavudh Powdthavee & Paul Dolan, Robert Metcalfe, 2008. "Electing Happiness: Does Happiness Effect Voting and do Elections Affect Happiness," Discussion Papers 08/30, Department of Economics, University of York. [Downloadable!]
  9. Leonardo Becchetti & Elena Giachin Ricca & Alessandra Pelloni, 2009. "Children, Happiness and Taxation," SOEPpapers 230, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). [Downloadable!]
  10. Russell Smyth & Xiaolei Qian, 2008. "Inequality and Happiness in Urban China," Economics Bulletin, Economics Bulletin, vol. 4(24), pages 1-10. [Downloadable!]
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