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Subjective well-being in China: how much does commuting matter?

Author

Listed:
  • Zhenjun Zhu

    (Southeast University)

  • Zhigang Li

    (Wuhan University)

  • Hongsheng Chen

    (Sun Yat-Sen University)

  • Ye Liu

    (Sun Yat-Sen University)

  • Jun Zeng

    (Southeast University)

Abstract

With rapidly increasing urbanization and motorization in China, the effect of commuting on residents’ subjective well-being (SWB) is likely growing. We used 13,261 individual, 124 city, and 401 neighbourhood samples from the 2014 China Labour-Force Dynamics Survey (CLDS 2014) and applied multilevel mixed-effects ordered probit regressions to investigate the relationship between commuting and SWB. We found huge differences between urban and rural areas in relation to commuting. Urban respondents’ daily average commuting time was 0.56 h while rural respondents’ daily average commuting time was 0.41 h. Further, the daily average commute time for residents living in cities with high urbanization rates (> 70%) was longer than for those living in cities with low urbanization rates (

Suggested Citation

  • Zhenjun Zhu & Zhigang Li & Hongsheng Chen & Ye Liu & Jun Zeng, 2019. "Subjective well-being in China: how much does commuting matter?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 1505-1524, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:transp:v:46:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s11116-017-9848-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11116-017-9848-1
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    3. Yanan Gao & Soora Rasouli & Harry Timmermans & Yuanqing Wang, 2024. "A latent class structural equation model of the relationship between travel satisfaction and overall life satisfaction controlling for satisfaction with other life domains," Transportation, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 193-213, February.
    4. Bin Li & Shaoning Li & Hongjuan Lei & Na Zhao & Chenchen Liu & Jiaxing Fang & Xu Liu & Shaowei Lu & Xiaotian Xu, 2024. "Application of High-Spatial-Resolution Imagery and Deep Learning Algorithms to Spatial Allocation of Urban Parks’ Supply and Demand in Beijing, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-21, July.
    5. Prakash, Kushneel & Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell, 2020. "Petrol prices and subjective wellbeing," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    6. Zhao, Pengjun & Wan, Jie, 2021. "Land use and travel burden of residents in urban fringe and rural areas: An evaluation of urban-rural integration initiatives in Beijing," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    7. Philippe Gerber & Marius Thériault & Christophe Enaux & Samuel Carpentier-Postel, 2020. "Links between Attitudes, Mode Choice, and Travel Satisfaction: A Cross-Border Long-Commute Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-20, November.
    8. Wan, Zhengyue & Titheridge, Helena, 2024. "Socially sustainable transport in the context of different-sized cities in China:Conceptualisation and operationalisation of equity," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    9. Moritz Kersting & Eike Matthies & Jörg Lahner & Jan Schlüter, 2021. "A socioeconomic analysis of commuting professionals," Transportation, Springer, vol. 48(5), pages 2127-2158, October.
    10. Mars, Lidón & Arroyo, Rosa & Ruiz, Tomás, 2022. "Mobility and wellbeing during the covid-19 lockdown. Evidence from Spain," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 107-129.
    11. Tao, Yinhua & van Ham, Maarten & Petrović, Ana & Ta, Na, 2023. "A household perspective on the commuting paradox: Longitudinal relationships between commuting time and subjective wellbeing for couples in China," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    12. Kumar, Pankaj & Kumar, Parveen & Garg, Ramesh Kumar, 2021. "A study on farmers' satisfaction and happiness after the land sale for urban expansion in India," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    13. Xize Wang & Tao Liu, 2022. "The Roads One Must Walk Down: Commute and Depression for Beijing's Residents," Papers 2207.07990, arXiv.org.
    14. Jin, Eunae & Kim, Danya & Jin, Jangik, 2022. "Commuting time and perceived stress: Evidence from the intra- and inter-city commuting of young workers in Korea," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).

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