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Competition and wellbeing

Author

Listed:
  • Juan José Barrios

    (Universidad ORT Uruguay. Facultad de Administración y Ciencias Sociales. Departmento de Economía)

Abstract

Drawing on individual data from the World Values Surveys, this paper estimates the relation between individual feelings about competition and self†reported happiness. People who think competition is good are associated to the same (high) level of happiness as do people who think competition is harmful. This finding is different than and complements previous research which shows a positive or negative relation between competition and wellbeing. The paper improves over previous research in that it approximates competitive environment by using individual†level measures. Instrumental variable analysis suggests that there may be a relation of causality stemming from competition to happiness. The paper conjectures about the reasons why individuals who find competition as harmful report higher levels of happiness.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan José Barrios, 2013. "Competition and wellbeing," Documentos de Investigación 95, Universidad ORT Uruguay. Facultad de Administración y Ciencias Sociales.
    • Handle: RePEc:avs:wpaper:95
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    File URL: https://dspace.ort.edu.uy/bitstream/handle/20.500.11968/2746/documentodeinvestigacion95.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    subjective well†being; happiness; utility; competition; econometrics; world values surveys;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C01 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - General - - - Econometrics
    • D00 - Microeconomics - - General - - - General
    • D40 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - General
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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