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Hypertension and Happiness across Nations

Author

Listed:
  • Blanchflower, David G.

    (Department of Economics, Dartmouth College)

  • Oswald, Andrew J.

    (Department of Economics, University of Warwick)

Abstract

A modern statistical literature argues that countries such as Denmark are particularly happy while nations like East Germany are not. Are such claims credible? The paper explores this by building on two ideas. The first is that psychological well-being and high blood-pressure are thought by clinicians to be inversely correlated. The second is that blood-pressure problems can be reported more objectively than mental well-being. Using data on 16 countries, the paper finds that happier nations report lower levels of hypertension. The paper’s results are consistent with, and seem to offer a step towards the validation of, cross-national estimates of well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Blanchflower, David G. & Oswald, Andrew J., 2007. "Hypertension and Happiness across Nations," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 792, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:wrk:warwec:792
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gross National Happiness ; blood pressure ; national well-being ; hypertension;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty

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