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Subjective economic well-being in Eastern Europe

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  • Hayo, Bernd
  • Seifert, Wolfgang

Abstract

This paper analyses subjective economic well-being in several Eastern European countries from 1991 to 1995. Economic well-being explains a significant part of the variation in overall life satisfaction of Eastern Europeans. In an ordered logit model, the determinants of subjective economic well-being are analysed. Some results are very similar to typical findings in happiness regressions, such as a negative but u-shaped age effect, positive influences of education and relative income position, as well as a negative effect of unemployment. Differing results were found with regard to gender and marital status. Finally, comparing indicators of objective and subjective well-being on a macro level indicates that using a standard macro variable for crosscountry comparisons in well-being, such as real GDP per capita, may provide misleading results during the early stages of transformation.

Suggested Citation

  • Hayo, Bernd & Seifert, Wolfgang, 2002. "Subjective economic well-being in Eastern Europe," IBES Diskussionsbeiträge 120, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute of Business and Economic Studie (IBES).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:udewwd:120
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Eastern Europe; economic well-being; happiness; economic transformation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • O52 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Europe
    • P2 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies

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