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Happiness, Satisfaction And Socioeconomic Conditions: Some International Evidence

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  • Amado Peiró

    (Universitat de València)

Abstract

This paper examines the relationships between socioeconomic conditions and happiness or satisfaction of individuals in 15 countries. In agreement with earlier studies, age, health and marital status are strongly associated with happiness and satisfaction. In seeming contrast with other studies, unemployment does not appear to be associated with happiness, although it is clearly associated with satisfaction. Income is also strongly associated with satisfaction, but its association with happiness is weaker. These results point to happiness and satisfaction as two distinct spheres of well-being. While the first would be relatively independent of economic factors, the second would be strongly dependent. Este trabajo examina las relaciones entre las condiciones socioeconómicas y la felicidad o la satisfacción de individuos de 15 países. De acuerdo con estudios anteriores, la edad, la salud y el estado civil están fuertemente asociadas con la felicidad y la satisfacción. En contraste aparente con otros estudios, el desempleo no parece estar asociado con la felicidad, aunque lo está claramente con la satisfacción. La renta también está fuertemente asociada con la satisfacción, pero su asociación con la felicidad es más débil. Estos resultados sugieren que la felicidad y la satisfacción constituyen dos ámbitos distintos del bienestar. Mientras que el primero sería relativamente independiente de factores económicos, el segundo dependería fuertemente de estos factores.

Suggested Citation

  • Amado Peiró, 2002. "Happiness, Satisfaction And Socioeconomic Conditions: Some International Evidence," Working Papers. Serie EC 2002-21, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie).
    • Handle: RePEc:ivi:wpasec:2002-21
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    felicidad; satisfacción. happiness; satisfaction;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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