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Life Satisfaction and its Distribution in Germany: A Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Gabriel Felbermayr
  • Michele Battisti
  • Jan-Philipp Suchta

Abstract

There is an on-going debate in Germany on the dynamics of economic inequality, its consequences and the question of how inequality, insofar as it is seen to be too high, should be lowered. The focus is on income inequality since this is well defined, can be measured and is the main driver behind asset inequality. Nevertheless, focusing on income alone is too narrow a perspective. The article analyses the distribution of life satisfaction in Germany. The results show that since 2005 life satisfaction has increased in most socio-demographic groups and the unequal distribution of life satisfaction has declined significantly since 2005. The decline in unemployment is the most important driver of this development at both the individual and the general levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriel Felbermayr & Michele Battisti & Jan-Philipp Suchta, 2017. "Life Satisfaction and its Distribution in Germany: A Survey," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 70(09), pages 19-30, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ifosdt:v:70:y:2017:i:09:p:19-30
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Luigino Bruni & Pier Luigi Porta, 2016. "Happiness and quality of life reconciled," Chapters, in: Luigino Bruni & Pier Luigi Porta (ed.), Handbook of Research Methods and Applications in Happiness and Quality of Life, chapter 1, pages 1-19, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. Ada Ferrer-i-Carbonell & Paul Frijters, 2004. "How Important is Methodology for the estimates of the determinants of Happiness?," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 114(497), pages 641-659, July.
    3. Gabriel Felbermayr & Michele Battisti & Sybille Lehwald, 2016. "Income Inequality in Germany, Part 1: Is There a Trend Reversal?," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 69(13), pages 28-37, July.
    4. Liliana Winkelmann & Rainer Winkelmann, 1998. "Why Are the Unemployed So Unhappy?Evidence from Panel Data," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 65(257), pages 1-15, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bonin, Holger & Boockmann, Bernhard & Brändle, Tobias & Bredtmann, Julia & Brussig, Martin & Dorner, Matthias & Fehn, Rebecca & Frings, Hanna & Glemser, Axel & Haas, Anette & Höckel, Lisa Sofie & Hube, 2020. "Begleitevaluation der arbeitsmarktpolitischen Integrationsmaßnahmen für Geflüchtete – Zweiter Zwischenbericht –," IZA Research Reports 94, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Ronnie Schöb, 2017. "Ungleichheit und Zufriedenheit – Anmerkungen zur Ungleichheitsdebatte," ifo Dresden berichtet, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 24(04), pages 32-35, August.
    3. Lisa Windsteiger & Michael Ahlheim & Kai A. Konrad, 2022. "Curtailment of Civil Liberties and Subjective Life Satisfaction," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 2157-2170, June.
    4. Michael Ahlheim & Stefan Bruckmeyer & Kai A. Konrad & Lisa Windsteiger, 2020. "Verlorenes Glück — Zufriedenheitsverluste in der Corona-Krise [Lost Happiness — Loss of Life Satisfaction in the Corona Crisis]," Wirtschaftsdienst, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 100(8), pages 586-590, August.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C44 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Operations Research; Statistical Decision Theory
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

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