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Appraising Unhappiness in the Wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake

Author

Listed:
  • Fumio Ohtake

    (Osaka University)

  • Katsunori Yamada

    (Kindai University)

  • Shoko Yamane

    (Kindai University)

Abstract

Considering the case of the Great East Japan Earthquake, we use the experienced-utility approach to appraise the psychological distress from disaster-related news. We take advantage of the serendipitous timing of our original nationwide weekly panel survey that became a fitting resource for the investigation of subjective well-being in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. Although all of Japanese society was affected, we found geographical heterogeneity between the affected areas (Sendai and Tokyo) and the unaffected areas in terms of mental costs. Our finding reminds us of the focusing effect (Kahneman et al., 2006; Dolan and Kahneman, 2008) as captured by Schkade and Kahneman (1998) in the maxim “Nothing in life is quite as important as you think it is while you are thinking about it”.

Suggested Citation

  • Fumio Ohtake & Katsunori Yamada & Shoko Yamane, 2016. "Appraising Unhappiness in the Wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 67(4), pages 403-417, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jecrev:v:67:y:2016:i:4:d:10.1111_jere.12099
    DOI: 10.1111/jere.12099
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sunbin Yoo & Junya Kumagai & Yuta Kawabata & Alexander Ryota Keeley & Shunsuke Managi, 2022. "Insuring Well-Being: Psychological Adaptation to Disasters," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 471-494, November.
    2. Okuyama, Naoko & Inaba, Yoji, 2017. "Influence of natural disasters on social engagement and post-disaster well-being: The case of the Great East Japan Earthquake," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 1-13.
    3. Zou Wang & Fei Wang, 2023. "Well-being Effects of Natural Disasters: Evidence from China’s Wenchuan Earthquake," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 563-587, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    I31; H56; D61;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War
    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis

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