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Happy People or Happy Places? A Multilevel Modeling Approach to the Analysis of Happiness and Well-Being

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  • Dimitris Ballas
  • Mark Tranmer

Abstract

This article aims to add a regional science perspective and a geographical dimension to our understanding of substantive questions regarding self-reported happiness and well-being through the specification and use of multilevel models. Multilevel models are used with data from the British Household Panel Survey and the Census of UK population to assess the nature and extent of variations in happiness and well-being to determine the relative importance of the area (district, region), household, and individual characteristics on these outcomes. Having taken into account the characteristics at these different levels, we are able to determine whether any areas are associated with especially positive or negative feelings of happiness and well-being. Whilst we find that most of the variation in happiness and well-being is attributable to the individual level, some variation in these measures is also found at the household and area levels, especially for the measure of well-being, before we control for the full set of individual, household, and area characteristics. However, once we control for these characteristics, the variation in happiness and well-being is not found to be statistically significant between areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Dimitris Ballas & Mark Tranmer, 2012. "Happy People or Happy Places? A Multilevel Modeling Approach to the Analysis of Happiness and Well-Being," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 35(1), pages 70-102, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:inrsre:v:35:y:2012:i:1:p:70-102
    DOI: 10.1177/0160017611403737
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    3. Karl Aiginger & Kurt Kratena & Margit Schratzenstaller-Altzinger & Teresa Weiss, 2014. "Moving Towards a New Growth Model. WWWforEurope Deliverable No. 3," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 47247, August.
    4. Joe Devine & Timothy Hinks & Arif Naveed, 2019. "Happiness in Bangladesh: The Role of Religion and Connectedness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 351-371, February.
    5. Richard A. Burns, 2019. "The Utility of Between-Nation Subjective Wellbeing Comparisons Amongst Nations Within the European Social Survey," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 683-705, March.
    6. Eric Morris & Erick Guerra, 2015. "Mood and mode: does how we travel affect how we feel?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 25-43, January.
    7. Nicola Pontarollo & Mercy Orellana & Joselin Segovia, 2020. "The Determinants of Subjective Well-Being in a Developing Country: The Ecuadorian Case," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(8), pages 3007-3035, December.
    8. Fernando BRUNA & Isabel NEIRA & Marta PORTELA, 2019. "Horizontal And Vertical Contexts On Europeans’ Well-Being," Applied Econometrics and International Development, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 19(2), pages 37-56.
    9. Tarsila Seara & Richard B. Pollnac & John J. Poggie, 2017. "Changes in Job Satisfaction Through Time in Two Major New England Fishing Ports," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(6), pages 1625-1640, December.
    10. Vanchai Ariyabuddhiphongs & Joseph Li, 2016. "Buddhist Good Karma of Giving, Optimism, and Happiness Among Thai Female Sex Workers," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 127(2), pages 903-917, June.
    11. Isabel Neira & Fernando Bruna & Marta Portela & Adela García-Aracil, 2018. "Individual Well-Being, Geographical Heterogeneity and Social Capital," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1067-1090, April.
    12. Sujarwoto, Sujarwoto & Tampubolon, Gindo, 2016. "Spatial inequality and the Internet divide in Indonesia 2010–2012," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(7), pages 602-616.
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    14. Muna Shifa & Murray Leibbrandt, 2018. "Relative Economic Position and Subjective Well-Being in a Poor Society: Does Relative Position Indicator Matter?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 139(2), pages 611-630, September.

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