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The nexus between welfare state and subjective well-being: A multi-level assessment

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  • Fassil Sisay Yehuala

    (School of Policy Studies, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

Abstract

This article explores the nexus between welfare state and subjective well-being in 20 countries drawing on data from World Value Survey, wave 6. Multi-level mixed-effects restricted maximum likelihood approach that uses fixed-effects and random-effects techniques was applied. This article argues that national differences can explain little of the variations in citizens' subjective well being. In relatively developed welfare states, the effect of welfare typologies on individual-level subjective well-being is insignificant. However, there is a visible difference in subjective well-being between citizens living in and out of European/OECD welfare regimes. Moreover, while higher public social expenditure exerts higher aggregate subjective well-being, there is no connection between the spending and individual-level subjective well-being. What is more, net pension replacement rate does not have an effect on aggregate and individual-level subjective well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Fassil Sisay Yehuala, 2020. "The nexus between welfare state and subjective well-being: A multi-level assessment," Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems - scientific journal, Croatian Interdisciplinary Society Provider Homepage: http://indecs.eu, vol. 18(2A), pages 135-154.
    • Handle: RePEc:zna:indecs:v:18:y:2020:i:2:p:135-154
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    welfare state; subjective well-being. SWB; life satisfaction;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • I39 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Other
    • N30 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • P36 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty
    • P46 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty

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