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Happiness and Stock-Market Participation: Empirical Evidence from China

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  • Yulei Rao
  • Lixing Mei
  • Rui Zhu

Abstract

Using the data from the China Household Finance Survey in 2011, we study the relation between happiness and stockholding. We find that a household’s propensity of investing in stocks or mutual funds, as well as household asset shares invested in stocks or mutual funds, is strongly associated with happiness. Moreover, empirical results suggest that among the three potential channels we propose, the association between happiness and stockholding is driven by trust (or social capital), rather than households’ risk preference or optimism level. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016

Suggested Citation

  • Yulei Rao & Lixing Mei & Rui Zhu, 2016. "Happiness and Stock-Market Participation: Empirical Evidence from China," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 271-293, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:17:y:2016:i:1:p:271-293
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-014-9594-4
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    3. Zuzana Brokesova & Andrej Cupak & Anthony Lepinteur & Marian Rizov, 2021. "Wealth, Assets and Life Satisfaction: A Metadata Instrumental-Variable Approach," Working and Discussion Papers WP 4/2021, Research Department, National Bank of Slovakia.
    4. Xiaoli, Gan & xiaoyi, Zhang & Xiaoyang, Ma & Khalid, Fahad, 2023. "Impact of financial environment on household risk financial asset selection: A micro perspective," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 137-145.
    5. Ya-Fang Cheng & Eugene Burgos Mutuc & Fu-Sheng Tsai & Kun-Hwa Lu & Chien-Ho Lin, 2018. "Social Capital and Stock Market Participation via Technologies: The Role of Households’ Risk Attitude and Cognitive Ability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-14, June.
    6. Miha Dominko & Miroslav Verbič, 2020. "Subjective Quality of Life and Stock Market Participation of the Elderly: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 505-519, September.
    7. Cheung, Yan-Leung & Mak, Billy S.C. & Shu, Hao & Tan, Weiqiang, 2023. "Impact of financial investment on confidence in a happy future retirement," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    8. Chi-Wei Su & Xu-Yu Cai & Ran Tao, 2020. "Can Stock Investor Sentiment Be Contagious in China?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-16, February.
    9. Chen, Fuzhong & Hsu, Chien-Lung & Lin, Arthur J. & Li, Haifeng, 2020. "Holding risky financial assets and subjective wellbeing: Empirical evidence from China," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    10. Satya Paul, 2018. "Effects of Happiness on Income Generation and Inequality," Departmental Working Papers 2018-10, The Australian National University, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics.
    11. Xu, Ziyao & Ma, Junfeng & Li, Donghui & Fu, Wentao, 2022. "Religious beliefs and stock market participation: Evidence from urban households in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    12. Ningyu Tang & Jingqiu Chen & Kaili Zhang & Thomas Li-Ping Tang, 2018. "Monetary Wisdom: How Do Investors Use Love of Money to Frame Stock Volatility and Enhance Stock Happiness?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(6), pages 1831-1862, August.
    13. Liu, Feng & Long, Xiao & Dong, Lin & Fang, Mingjie, 2023. "What makes you entrepreneurial? Using machine learning to investigate the determinants of entrepreneurship in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).

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