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The relationship between happiness and health: Evidence from Italy

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  • Sabatini, Fabio

Abstract

We test the relationship between happiness and self-rated health in Italy. The analysis relies on a unique dataset collected through the administration of a questionnaire to a representative sample (n = 817) of the population of the Italian Province of Trento in March 2011. Based on probit regressions and instrumental variables estimates, we find that happiness is strongly correlated with perceived good health, after controlling for a number of relevant socio-economic phenomena. Health inequalities based on income, work status and education are relatively contained with respect to the rest of Italy. As expected, this scales down the role of social relationships.

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  • Sabatini, Fabio, 2014. "The relationship between happiness and health: Evidence from Italy," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 178-187.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:114:y:2014:i:c:p:178-187
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.05.024
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Happiness; Health; Italy; Life satisfaction;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics

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