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Stacking Model for Optimizing Subjective Well-Being Predictions Based on the CGSS Database

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Listed:
  • Na Ke

    (School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
    National Research Centre for Resettlement, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Guoqing Shi

    (School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
    National Research Centre for Resettlement, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Ying Zhou

    (Institute of Statistics and Econometrics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China)

Abstract

Subjective Well-Being (SWB) is an important indicator reflecting the satisfaction of residents’ lives and social welfare. As a prevalent technique, machine learning is playing a more significant role in various domains. However, few studies have used machine learning techniques to study SWB. This paper puts forward a stacking model based on ANN, XGBoost, LR, CatBoost, and LightGBM to predict the SWB of Chinese residents, using the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) datasets from 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Furthermore, the feature importance index of tree models is used to reveal the changes in the important factors affecting SWB. The results show that the stacking model proposed in this paper is superior to traditional models such as LR or other single machine learning models. The results also show some common features that have contributed to SWB in different years. The methods used in this study are effective and the results provide support for making society more harmonious.

Suggested Citation

  • Na Ke & Guoqing Shi & Ying Zhou, 2021. "Stacking Model for Optimizing Subjective Well-Being Predictions Based on the CGSS Database," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:21:p:11833-:d:665186
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ferrer-i-Carbonell, Ada & Gowdy, John M., 2007. "Environmental degradation and happiness," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(3), pages 509-516, January.
    2. Andrew E. Clark & Paul Frijters & Michael A. Shields, 2008. "Relative Income, Happiness, and Utility: An Explanation for the Easterlin Paradox and Other Puzzles," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 46(1), pages 95-144, March.
    3. Ed Diener & Shigehiro Oishi & Louis Tay, 2018. "Advances in subjective well-being research," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 2(4), pages 253-260, April.
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