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Subjective Questions to Measure Welfare and Well-being

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Author Info
Ada Ferrer-i-Carbonell () (SEO, Amsterdam Economics, Faculty of Economics and Econometrics,University of Amsterdam)

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Abstract

This paper provides arguments in favor of using subjective questions as a proxy to measure welfare and well-being. This approach makes it possible to avoid having to define welfare and well-being means and having to identify the relevant indicators. Instead, individuals themselves define their level of welfare and well-being. For a meaningful analysis of subjective questions, two main assumptions are needed: namely, that individuals are able to evaluate their own situation, and that responses among individuals can be compared. Both assumptions are discussed here. Next, empirical studies that use subjective questions are surveyed. This offers a fIrst approximation of the structure of individual well-being and preferences. Finally, four areas of application are identified, along with a short survey of relevant studies.

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Paper provided by Tinbergen Institute in its series Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers with number 02-020/3.

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Date of creation: 15 Feb 2002
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Handle: RePEc:dgr:uvatin:20020020

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Related research
Keywords: Preferences; Satisfaction; Welfare measurement; Well-being measurement;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
D6 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics
I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare and Poverty - - - General
I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare and Poverty - - - General Welfare

This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

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Full references

Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Javier Herrera & Mireille Razafindrakoto & François Roubaud, 2006. "The determinants of subjective poverty: A comparative analysis in Madagascar and Peru," Working Papers DT/2006/01, DIAL (Développement, Institutions & Analyses de Long terme). [Downloadable!]
  2. Ada Ferrer-i-Carbonell, 2002. "Income and Well-being," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 02-019/3, Tinbergen Institute. [Downloadable!]
  3. Claudia Senik, 2003. "What Can we Learn from Subjective Data ? The Case of Income and Well-Being," DELTA Working Papers 2003-06, DELTA (Ecole normale supérieure), revised Oct 2003. [Downloadable!]
  4. Ekaterina Kalugina & Natalia Radtchenko & Catherine Sofer, 2008. "Une analyse du partage intrafamilial du revenu à partir de données subjectives," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-00193481_v1, HAL. [Downloadable!]
  5. Eric Bonsang, 2006. "The relative impact of income and health on the subjective well-being across generations in Europe," CREPP Working Papers 0601, Centre de Recherche en Economie Publique et de la Population (CREPP) (Research Center on Public and Population Economics) HEC-Management School, University of Liège. [Downloadable!]
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