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Choice and happiness in South Africa

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  • Szabó, Andrea
  • Ujhelyi, Gergely

Abstract

To study the usefulness of subjective well-being measures as a proxy for utility, Benjamin et al. (2012) ask whether people choose what makes them happy in US samples. We use their methodology in a sample from low-income South African townships. Here respondents almost always choose what makes them feel happy. In addition, they perceive little conflict between own happiness and other relevant determinants of choice such as sense of purpose and family happiness.

Suggested Citation

  • Szabó, Andrea & Ujhelyi, Gergely, 2017. "Choice and happiness in South Africa," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 28-30.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:155:y:2017:i:c:p:28-30
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2017.02.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel J. Benjamin & Ori Heffetz & Miles S. Kimball & Alex Rees-Jones, 2012. "What Do You Think Would Make You Happier? What Do You Think You Would Choose?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 102(5), pages 2083-2110, August.
    2. Daniel J. Benjamin & Ori Heffetz & Miles S. Kimball & Alex Rees-Jones, 2014. "Can Marginal Rates of Substitution Be Inferred from Happiness Data? Evidence from Residency Choices," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(11), pages 3498-3528, November.
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    1. Rohan Sweeney & Farzana Hossain & Jumriani Ansar & Indra Dwinata & Sitti Andriani Anwar & Arlyani Risal & Gang Chen & Michaela F. Prescott & S Fiona Barker & Karin Leder & Ansariadi Ansariadi & David , 2026. "Aligning community and public priorities in informal settlement upgrading: Evidence from discrete choice experiments in Indonesia," Papers 2026-02, Centre for Health Economics, Monash University.
    2. Tao, Dongjie & He, Lingyun & Hamilton, Jonathan & Xu, Ding, 2021. "Children's marriage and parental subjective well-being: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    3. Adler, Matthew D. & Dolan, Paul & Kavetsos, Georgios, 2017. "Would you choose to be happy? Tradeoffs between happiness and the other dimensions of life in a large population survey," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 60-73.

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