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Is the Structure of Happiness Equations the Same in Poor and Rich Countries? The Case of South Africa

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Author Info
Nattavudh Powdthavee (Warwick University)

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Abstract

Are happiness patterns structurally the same when comparing poor and rich countries? Using cross-sectional data from the SALDRU93 survey, we show that the relationships between subjective well-being and socioeconomic variables have a similar structure and is U-shaped in age in South Africa as in developed countries. Well-being rises with income. Unemployment is detrimental to reported well-being, both at the individual- and household-level. Living standard indicators such as durable assets ownership seem to determine happiness levels as well as income. Relative income also matters to well-being, after controlling for community wealth.

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Paper provided by EconWPA in its series Development and Comp Systems with number 0309003.

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Date of creation: 05 Sep 2003
Date of revision: 06 Nov 2003
Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpdc:0309003

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Keywords: Happiness Living Standard South Africa Poverty

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare and Poverty - - - General Welfare
J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
O10 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
O55 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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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. Nattavudh Powdthavee, 2003. "Unhappiness and Crime: Evidence from South Africa," Development and Comp Systems 0310003, EconWPA, revised 17 Mar 2004. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. Nattavudh Powdthavee, 2003. "Are there Regional Variations in the Psychological Cost of Unemployment in South Africa?," Labor and Demography 0310006, EconWPA, revised 28 Oct 2003. [Downloadable!]
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