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Can "happiness data" help evaluate economic policies?

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  • Robert MacCulloch

    (University of Auckland)

Abstract

Imagine a government confronted with a controversial policy question, like whether it should cut the level of unemployment benefits. Will social welfare rise as a result? Will some groups be winners and other groups be losers? Will the welfare gap between the employed and unemployed increase? "Happiness data" offer a new way to make these kinds of evaluations. These data allow us to track the well-being of the whole population, and also sub-groups like the employed and unemployed people, and correlate the results with relevant policy changes.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert MacCulloch, 2016. "Can "happiness data" help evaluate economic policies?," Motu Working Papers 16_02, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:mtu:wpaper:16_02
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory

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