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Unhappy Metros: Panel Evidence

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  • Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn

    (Rutgers-Camden University)

Abstract

We study the effect of urbanicity (metro v nonmetro) on life satisfaction, or Subjective WellBeing (SWB). The literature agrees that residents of metropolitan areas tend to be less satisfied with their lives than residents of smaller settlements in the developed world. But the existing evidence is cross-sectional only. This is the first study using longitudinal dataset to test the “unhappy metro” hypothesis. Using the 2009–2019 US Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), we find support for the cross-sectional findings: metros are less happy than nonmetros. The effect size is practically significant, the negative effect of metro v nonmetro is equivalent to the effect of one’s health deteriorating about a third from “fair” to “poor.” Given extremely large scale of urbanization, projected 6b of people from 1950 to 2050, the combined effect of urbanicity on human wellbeing is large.

Suggested Citation

  • Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn, 2023. "Unhappy Metros: Panel Evidence," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(2), pages 753-763, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:18:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s11482-022-10102-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-022-10102-7
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