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Do people exaggerate how happy they are? Using a promise to induce truth-telling

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  • Fredrik Carlsson
  • Mitesh Kataria

Abstract

We investigate a novel approach to reduce measurement error in subjective well-being (SWB) data. Using a between-subject design, half of the subjects are asked to promise to answer the survey questions truthfully to make them commit to truth-telling. We find a statistically significant difference between mean stated well-being between the two samples (with and without a promise). People are consistently found to exaggerate their happiness and for several different aspects of life, without a promise. We then investigate to what extent the differences in stated well-being also affect the inference from regressions models on the determinants of SWB. The effect on the covariates are only weakly statistically significant and only for a few variables, if we compare the samples with and without the promise. Thus, this means that the policy implications based on an SWB study only marginally depends on whether we include a truth-telling question or not.

Suggested Citation

  • Fredrik Carlsson & Mitesh Kataria, 2018. "Do people exaggerate how happy they are? Using a promise to induce truth-telling," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 70(3), pages 784-798.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:oxecpp:v:70:y:2018:i:3:p:784-798.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/oep/gpy003
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    Cited by:

    1. Jérôme Hergueux & Nicolas Jacquemet & Stéphane Luchini & Jason F. Shogren, 2022. "Leveraging the Honor Code: Public Goods Contributions under Oath," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 81(3), pages 591-616, March.
    2. Nicolas Jacquemet & Jason F. Shogren & Adam Zylbersztejn & Stéphane Luchini, 2023. "Commitment to the truth creates trust in market exchange: Experimental evidence," Working Papers halshs-04391214, HAL.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General

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