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Are We Architects of Our Own Happiness?: The Importance of Family Background for Well-Being

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  • Daniel D. Schnitzlein
  • Christoph Wunder

Abstract

This paper analyzes whether individuals have equal opportunity to achieve happiness (or wellbeing). We estimate sibling correlations and intergenerational correlations in self-reported life satisfaction, satisfaction with household income, job satisfaction, and satisfaction with health. We find high sibling correlations for all measures of well-being. The results suggest that family background explains, on average, between 30% and 60% of the inequality in permanent wellbeing. The influence is smaller when the siblings’ psychological and geographical distance from their parental home is larger. Results from intergenerational correlations suggest that parental characteristics are considerably less important than family and community factors.

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  • Daniel D. Schnitzlein & Christoph Wunder, 2014. "Are We Architects of Our Own Happiness?: The Importance of Family Background for Well-Being," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 700, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp700
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    1. Andersen Dana C. & Gunes Pinar Mine, 2018. "The Role of Adolescent Health in Adult SES Outcomes," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 18(2), pages 1-16, April.
    2. Mansi Jain & Gagan Deep Sharma & Mandeep Mahendru, 2019. "Can I Sustain My Happiness? A Review, Critique and Research Agenda for Economics of Happiness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-36, November.
    3. Camehl Georg F. & Spiess Christa Katharina & Hahlweg Kurt, 2020. "The Effects of a Parenting Program on Maternal Well-Being: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 20(4), pages 1-26, October.
    4. Kang-Rae Ma, 2016. "Intergenerational Transmission of Wealth and Life Satisfaction," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 11(4), pages 1287-1308, December.
    5. Susanne Elsas, 2021. "Causality in the Link between Income and Satisfaction: IV Estimation with Internal Instruments," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 1143, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    6. Camehl, Georg F. & Spiess, Christa Katharina & Hahlweg, Kurt, 2020. "The Effects of a Parenting Program on Maternal Well-Being: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, issue Ahead of .

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    subjective well-being; family background; intergenerational mobility; siblings;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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