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Well-Being and Income Across Space and Time: Evidence from One Million Households

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  • Michael D. Smith

    (Alaska Fisheries Science Center)

  • Dennis Wesselbaum

    (University of Otago)

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the global trends and driving forces of well-being and income. We extend the literature by examining inequality in both variables, since average well-being and income measures can obscure important disparities in people’s lives. We use data from the Gallup World Poll for nine years (2009–2017) and 158 countries (N = 1,437,897). Our analysis proceeds in two steps. First, we present country-level panel evidence. Second, we estimate microeconometric regressions to reveal the individual-level drivers of well-being and income. We find that the mean of well-being and income by development group varies little over time, while inequality in these two variables change significantly. We find no evidence of the Easterlin paradox after controlling for income inequality and show that income growth reduces well-being inequality. Further, drivers of mean and inequality in well-being and income are similar, but policymakers should consider the full distributional impact of investments.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael D. Smith & Dennis Wesselbaum, 2023. "Well-Being and Income Across Space and Time: Evidence from One Million Households," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 1813-1840, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:24:y:2023:i:5:d:10.1007_s10902-023-00660-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-023-00660-4
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Development; GDP; Inequality; Well-being;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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