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Happiness and the Quality of Government

Author

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  • John F. Helliwell
  • Haifang Huang
  • Shun Wang

Abstract

This chapter uses happiness data to assess the quality of government. Our happiness data are drawn from the Gallup World Poll, starting in 2005 and extending to 2017 or 2018. In our analysis of the panel of more than 150 countries and generally over 1,500 national-level observations, we show that government delivery quality is significantly correlated with national happiness, but democratic quality is not. We also analyze other quality of government indicators. Confidence in government is correlated with happiness, however forms of democracy and government spending seem not. We further discuss three channels (including peace and conflict, trust, and inequality) whereby quality of government and happiness are linked. We finally summarize what has been learned about how government policies could be formed to improve citizens’ happiness.

Suggested Citation

  • John F. Helliwell & Haifang Huang & Shun Wang, 2020. "Happiness and the Quality of Government," NBER Working Papers 26840, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:26840
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    Cited by:

    1. Jason Wei Jian Ng & Santha Vaithilingam & Grace H. Y. Lee & Gary J. Rangel, 2022. "Life Satisfaction and Incumbent Voting: Examining the Mediating Effect of Trust in Government," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2947-2967, August.
    2. Mignamissi, Dieudonné & Malah Kuete, Yselle Flora, 2021. "Resource rents and happiness on a global perspective: The resource curse revisited," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    3. Marijana Andrijić & Tajana Barbić, 2021. "When the Going Gets Tough … the Effect of Economic Reform Programmes on National Well-Being," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-19, October.
    4. Minghui Fu & Chuanjiang Liu & Yuting Ma & Liukun Wang, 2022. "Does City Public Service Distance Increase Sense of Gain to Public Health Service? Evidence from 1394 Migrant Workers in Six Provinces," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-20, May.
    5. Marijana Andrijic, 2022. "Economics And Happiness €“ Key Insights And Latest Findings," Economic Thought and Practice, Department of Economics and Business, University of Dubrovnik, vol. 31(1), pages 257-275, june.
    6. Ariel Herbert Fambeu & Georges Dieudonné Mbondo & Patricia Tchawa Yomi, 2022. "Bigger or better? The effect of public spending on happiness in Africa," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 34(4), pages 487-499, December.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H1 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H5 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty

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