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Explaining Individual Subjective Well-Being of Urban China Based on the Four-Capital Model

Author

Listed:
  • Shuai Zhang

    (College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Binbin Liu

    (Antai College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China)

  • Dajian Zhu

    (School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Mingwang Cheng

    (School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

Abstract

A growing body of literature explains subjective well-being (SWB) from different perspectives. The statement of “built, human, social, and natural capital are necessary determinants of SWB” is named the four-capital model. Based on a cross-sectional dataset in 2013, which included 3293 individuals and covered the urban areas of most provinces in China, this paper employs the four-capital model to explain individual SWB of urban China. We select individual income and household income per capita as proxies of built capital; physical health and education as proxies of human capital; social connection and social trust as proxies of social capital; and air quality as a proxy of natural capital. In the four-capital model, household income per capita and physical health have almost the same and larger positive impacts on individual SWB of urban China; social connection, social trust, and air quality have smaller and diminishing positive impacts on individual SWB of urban China; and individual income and education are statistically insignificant. The empirical results offer guidance on how to achieve human-centered urbanization for China. This paper provides insights into how to further improve human well-being of urban residents in China and the applicability of the four-capital model in explaining SWB at the individual level.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuai Zhang & Binbin Liu & Dajian Zhu & Mingwang Cheng, 2018. "Explaining Individual Subjective Well-Being of Urban China Based on the Four-Capital Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:10:p:3480-:d:172661
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    1. Jiaping Zhang & Mingwang Cheng & Xinyu Wei & Xiaomei Gong, 2018. "Does Mobile Phone Penetration Affect Divorce Rate? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-19, October.
    2. Sibel Eker & Leena Ilmola-Sheppard, 2020. "Systems Thinking to Understand National Well-Being from a Human Capital Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-19, March.

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