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Well-Being Inequality And The Economic Crisis: Evidence From Life In Transition Surveys In Eastern Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Alina Botezat

    (Romanian Academy, Gh. Zane Institute for Economic and Social Research)

  • Livia Baciu

    (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi)

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between well-being inequality and the economic crisis for countries from Central and Eastern Europe. Using data from Life in Transition Surveys waves 2006 and 2010, we assess the level of happiness gap by computing the instrument-effect-corrected standard deviation. Our results indicate that the dispersion in self-reported well-being levels increased after the economic crisis in all considered countries. We also show that the life satisfaction variation is not necessarily higher for those who report being poor compared to those from the upper part of the income hierarchy. Results also suggest that in general the gaps are higher in the case of those who report being not affected at all by the economic crisis compared to those who report being affected to a large extent by the crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Alina Botezat & Livia Baciu, 2014. "Well-Being Inequality And The Economic Crisis: Evidence From Life In Transition Surveys In Eastern Europe," CES Working Papers, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 6(2), pages 22-31, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:jes:wpaper:y:2014:v:6:i:2:p:22-31
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    well-being inequality; economic crisis; income inequality; happiness Romania;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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