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Happiness and the Persistence of Income Shocks

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  • Bayer, Christian

    (University of Bonn)

  • Juessen, Falko

    (University of Wuppertal)

Abstract

We reassess the empirical effect of income and employment on self-reported well-being. Our analysis makes use of a novel two-step estimation procedure that allows applying instrumental variable regressions with ordinal observable data. As suggested by the theory of incomplete markets, we differentiate between the effects of persistent and transitory income shocks. In line with this theory, we find that persistent shocks have a significant impact on happiness while transitory shocks do not. This has consequences also for inference about the happiness effect of employment. We find that employment per se is rather associated with a decline in happiness.

Suggested Citation

  • Bayer, Christian & Juessen, Falko, 2012. "Happiness and the Persistence of Income Shocks," IZA Discussion Papers 6771, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6771
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General

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