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The Changing Happiness-Enhancing Effect of a College Degree Under Higher Education Expansion: Evidence from China

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  • Anning Hu

Abstract

Although the average enhancing effect of higher education on subjective wellbeing has been confirmed in many previous studies, we still know little about how such an effect may change in an era of higher education expansion. Drawing on representative data collected in urban China, this study illustrates a nonparametric analytical framework and highlights a declining trend in the average enhancing effect of a college credential on subjective wellbeing between 2003 and 2010. Meanwhile, growing heterogeneity in the positive association between higher education and happiness among urban residents was detected. The findings of this study suggest a “quality–quantity” tradeoff with regard to the desirable consequences of higher education for subjective wellbeing amidst the process of credential proliferation. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Anning Hu, 2015. "The Changing Happiness-Enhancing Effect of a College Degree Under Higher Education Expansion: Evidence from China," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 669-685, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:16:y:2015:i:3:p:669-685
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-014-9528-1
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    1. Donghwan Kim, 2018. "Cross-National Pattern of Happiness: Do Higher Education and Less Urbanization Degrade Happiness?," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 13(1), pages 21-35, March.
    2. Xiaoyan Yu & Shiyong Wu & Wei Chen & Mingxi Huang, 2021. "Sentiment Analysis of Public Opinions on the Higher Education Expansion Policy in China," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(3), pages 21582440211, August.
    3. Shanshan Liu & Feng Yu & Cheng Yan, 2023. "The Impact of Higher Education Expansion on Subjective Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Chinese Social Survey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-20, March.
    4. Satoshi Araki, 2022. "Does Education Make People Happy? Spotlighting the Overlooked Societal Condition," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 587-629, February.
    5. Veselina P. Vracheva & Robert Moussetis & Ali Abu-Rahma, 2020. "The Mediational Role of Engagement in the Relationship Between Curiosity and Student Development: A Preliminary Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1529-1547, April.

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