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Long-term impacts of early adversity on subjective well-being: Evidence from the Chinese great famine

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  • Ren, Qianping
  • Wang, Liyan
  • Ye, Maoliang

Abstract

Employing a difference-in-differences method across birth cohorts and regions with nationally representative data, this study examines the impact of the 1959–1961 Chinese Great Famine on survivors’ subjective well-being (SWB) fifty years later. Early-life exposure significantly reduces emotional and eudaimonic SWB, especially among females; evaluative SWB remains unaffected. Mechanism analysis highlights health status and social integration as primary channels, with socioeconomic status playing a limited role. This study is the first to systematically analyze the famine's SWB effects, revealing variability across well-being dimensions. Our findings underscore early-life circumstances’ pivotal role in SWB and the enduring consequences of adversity and public disasters.

Suggested Citation

  • Ren, Qianping & Wang, Liyan & Ye, Maoliang, 2025. "Long-term impacts of early adversity on subjective well-being: Evidence from the Chinese great famine," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:230:y:2025:i:c:s0167268125000253
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2025.106905
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Famine; Public disasters; Early-life circumstance; Subjective well-being; Difference-in-differences; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • N35 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Asia including Middle East

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