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Intergenerational mobility and subjective well-being—Evidence from the general social survey

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  • Nikolaev, Boris
  • Burns, Ainslee

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between intergenerational socio-economic mobility and subjective well-being (SWB) using data from the General Social Survey (GSS). We look at three different measures of intergenerational mobility—social, educational, and income mobility. We find that downward mobility with respect to all three measures has a negative effect on the self-reported level of happiness and subjective health while upward mobility is associated with positive outcomes in subjective well-being. The positive and negative effect of social and educational mobility, however, is entirely through the income and health channels while income mobility has an impact on subjective well-being even after controlling for the current level of income and health. We further find that the effect of income mobility on subjective well-being peaks between the ages of 35–45 years and then slowly dissipates. Finally, the negative effect of downward mobility on subjective well-being is much stronger than the positive effect of upward mobility. This is consistent with the decision theory of loss aversion according to which the experienced disutility from loses outweighs the utility from acquiring proportionate gains. We do not find evidence for loss aversion when it comes to social and educational mobility.

Suggested Citation

  • Nikolaev, Boris & Burns, Ainslee, 2014. "Intergenerational mobility and subjective well-being—Evidence from the general social survey," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 82-96.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:53:y:2014:i:c:p:82-96
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2014.08.005
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    3. Iveson, Matthew H. & Deary, Ian J., 2017. "Intergenerational social mobility and subjective wellbeing in later life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 11-20.
    4. T. Gries & R. Grundmann & I. Palnau & M. Redlin, 2017. "Innovations, growth and participation in advanced economies - a review of major concepts and findings," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 293-351, April.
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    6. Dang, Hai-Anh H. & Abanokova, Kseniya, 2022. "Do Gender, Child, and Parent Characteristics Contribute to Intergenerational Subjective Well-being Mobility? Evidence from Russia during 1994-2019," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1088, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    7. Kim, Yonsu & Lee, Yongsoo, 2023. "Economic development, intergenerational mobility, and health in South Korea," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    8. Sophie Leontopoulou & Michael Chletsos, 2023. "Intergenerational Social Mobility and Youth Well-Being in the Context of the Greek Socio-Economic Crisis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 165(1), pages 333-353, January.
    9. Aram Kwon, 2022. "The Impact of Intergenerational Mobility on Well-being in Japan," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 162(1), pages 253-277, July.
    10. Bridger, Emma & Daly, Michael, 2020. "Intergenerational social mobility predicts midlife well-being: Prospective evidence from two large British cohorts," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    11. Bettina Schuck & Nadia Steiber, 2018. "Does Intergenerational Educational Mobility Shape the Well-Being of Young Europeans? Evidence from the European Social Survey," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 139(3), pages 1237-1255, October.
    12. Xie, Qian-Wen & Luo, Xiangyan & Lu, Shuang & Fan, Xu Li & Li, Shi, 2024. "Household income mobility and adolescent subjective well-being in China: Analyzing the mechanisms of influence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    13. Rus’an Nasrudin & Qisha Quarina & Teguh Dartanto, 2022. "Revisiting the Energy-Happiness Paradox: A Quasi-Experimental Evidence of Electricity Access in Indonesia," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 3549-3576, October.
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    15. Tak Wing Chan, 2017. "Social Mobility and the Wellbeing of Individuals," DoQSS Working Papers 17-01, Quantitative Social Science - UCL Social Research Institute, University College London.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income mobility; Subjective well-being; Happiness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers

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