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Why are Locals Happier than Internal Migrants? The Role of Daily Life

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  • Martijn Hendriks
  • Kai Ludwigs
  • Ruut Veenhoven

Abstract

Several survey studies have found that internal migrants report lower levels of happiness than locals, even after accounting for socio-economic factors. Traditional global self-ratings reveal that the migrant–local happiness-gap is also present in the data we present. The reasons for the migrant–local happiness-gap are as yet unclear. This paper aims to open this ‘black box’ by exploring the role of daily activities among a population that has generally been overlooked despite their high migration frequency: young adults. An innovative smartphone application is used that combines two techniques for multiple moment assessment: the experience sampling method and the day reconstruction method. Based on the application data, we examine whether internal migrants spend their time differently than locals and in which situations they feel noticeably less happy than locals. The data reveal that internal migrants distribute less time to happiness-producing activities such as active leisure, social drinking/parties, and activities outside home/work/transit. Internal migrants feel less happy than locals when spending time with friends and while eating. Possible explanations focusing on the role of social capital are discussed. Further analyses reveal that daily life experiences greatly enhance the explanation of the migrant–local happiness-gap. This paper demonstrates the potential value of real-time data and phone applications in solving happiness puzzles. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016

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  • Martijn Hendriks & Kai Ludwigs & Ruut Veenhoven, 2016. "Why are Locals Happier than Internal Migrants? The Role of Daily Life," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 125(2), pages 481-508, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:125:y:2016:i:2:p:481-508
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-014-0856-7
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    2. Yuxi Liu & Rassamee Sangthong & Thammasin Ingviya & Chonghua Wan, 2019. "Nothing Like Living with a Family: A Qualitative Study of Subjective Well-Being and its Determinants among Migrant and Local Elderly in Dongguan, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Qian Liu & Haimin Pan, 2020. "Investigation on Life Satisfaction of Rural-to-Urban Migrant Workers in China: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-14, April.
    4. Shinichi Nagata & Eugene Brusilovskiy & Greg Townley & Bryan McCormick & Elizabeth C. Thomas & Gretchen Snethen & Mark S. Salzer, 2023. "Housing and loneliness among individuals with serious mental illnesses," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(3), pages 559-566, May.
    5. Kai Ludwigs & Richard Lucas & Ruut Veenhoven & David Richter & Lidia Arends, 2020. "Can Happiness Apps Generate Nationally Representative Datasets? - a Case Study Collecting Data on People’s Happiness Using the German Socio-Economic Panel," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(4), pages 1135-1149, September.
    6. Zsóka Kóczán, 2016. "(Why) are immigrants unhappy?," IZA Journal of Migration and Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 5(1), pages 1-25, December.
    7. Kerstin Mitterbacher, 2021. "Motives for economic migration: a review," Working Paper Series, Social and Economic Sciences 2021-07, Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Karl-Franzens-University Graz.
    8. Lianne P. Vries & Bart M. L. Baselmans & Meike Bartels, 2021. "Smartphone-Based Ecological Momentary Assessment of Well-Being: A Systematic Review and Recommendations for Future Studies," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 2361-2408, June.
    9. Kaizhi Yu & Yun Zhang & Hong Zou & Chenchen Wang, 2019. "Absolute Income, Income Inequality and the Subjective Well-Being of Migrant Workers in China: Toward an Understanding of the Relationship and Its Psychological Mechanisms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-27, July.
    10. Kate Sollis & Budy P. Resosudarmo & Firman Witoelar & Riswandi Riswandi & Julius A. Mollet, 2023. "Migrant Status and the Wellbeing Gap: The Case of an Ethnically Diverse, High-Conflict Area in Indonesia," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 1781-1811, June.
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    12. Pascarn R. Dickinson & Philip S. Morrison, 2022. "Aversion to Local Wellbeing Inequality is Moderated by Social Engagement and Sense of Community," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 159(3), pages 907-926, February.

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