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Happiness And Age—Resolving The Debate

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  • Blanchflower, David G.
  • Graham, Carol
  • Piper, Alan

Abstract

This article is a response to a piece in this journal, by David Bartram, which questions the validity of a vast literature establishing consistently a U-shaped relationship between age and happiness. There are 618 published studies that find U-shapes in that relationship in 145 countries, and only a handful that do not. Of the 30 countries that Bartram (2023, National Institute Economic Review, 1–15) examines, he finds U-shapes in 18. We show compelling evidence of U-shapes in the remaining dozen countries. Supporting evidence of a U-shape is found in objective measures including deaths of despair, depression, stress and pain that are worst in midlife.

Suggested Citation

  • Blanchflower, David G. & Graham, Carol & Piper, Alan, 2023. "Happiness And Age—Resolving The Debate," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 263, pages 76-93, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:nierev:v:263:y:2023:i::p:76-93_6
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    Cited by:

    1. David G. Blanchflower & Alex Bryson, 2024. "Wellbeing Rankings," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 171(2), pages 513-565, January.
    2. David Bartram, 2024. "To Evaluate the Age–Happiness Relationship, Look Beyond Statistical Significance," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 1-26, February.
    3. Ana Suárez-Álvarez & María Rosalía Vicente, 2025. "Internet use and the Well-Being of the Elders. A Quantitative Study in an Aged Country," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 176(3), pages 1121-1135, February.

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