IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jhappi/v26y2025i1d10.1007_s10902-024-00831-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Who (Really) Wins with Basic Income: Personality and Values as Predictors of Happiness Trajectories

Author

Listed:
  • Julia Malinka

    (Ernst-Abbe Hochschule Jena, University of Applied Science
    Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • Kristin Mitte

    (Ernst-Abbe Hochschule Jena, University of Applied Science)

  • Matthias Ziegler

    (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

Abstract

Universal Basic Income (UBI) might cause different effects in happiness depending on a person’s individual characteristics. In an online panel study of 573 basic income recipients in Germany, we examined whether personality traits (NEOAC) and certain personal values (self-direction, stimulation, hedonism, power, achievement, universalism, benevolence) predicted trajectories in happiness. Latent Growth Curve Analysis revealed that overall, most individuals experienced similar changes in happiness over time. For personality traits as predictors, higher neuroticism and openness to new experience were linked to growth in well-being. Additionally for personal values, significant growth in life satisfaction appeared to be associated with lower hedonism at the beginning of the study, and growth in well-being was related to higher levels of self-direction. In fact, none of the subgroups suffered in happiness. We conclude with implications and some important directions for further research regarding the effect of basic income on happiness.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Malinka & Kristin Mitte & Matthias Ziegler, 2025. "Who (Really) Wins with Basic Income: Personality and Values as Predictors of Happiness Trajectories," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 1-34, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:26:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10902-024-00831-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-024-00831-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10902-024-00831-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10902-024-00831-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Robeyns Ingrid, 2008. "Introduction: Revisiting the Feminism and Basic Income Debate," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 3(3), pages 1-6, December.
    2. Olli Kangas & Minna Ylikännö, 2023. "Basic Income and the Status of Women in an Established Gender-Equal Welfare State: Results from the Finnish Basic Income Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-13, January.
    3. Joep Agteren & Matthew Iasiello & Laura Lo & Jonathan Bartholomaeus & Zoe Kopsaftis & Marissa Carey & Michael Kyrios, 2021. "A systematic review and meta-analysis of psychological interventions to improve mental wellbeing," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(5), pages 631-652, May.
    4. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    5. Marne Arthaud-day & Joseph Rode & Christine Mooney & Janet Near, 2005. "The Subjective Well-being Construct: A Test of its Convergent, Discriminant, and Factorial Validity," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 74(3), pages 445-476, December.
    6. Andrew E. Clark & Paul Frijters & Michael A. Shields, 2008. "Relative Income, Happiness, and Utility: An Explanation for the Easterlin Paradox and Other Puzzles," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 46(1), pages 95-144, March.
    7. Susanne M. Syrén & Katja Kokko & Lea Pulkkinen & Jaakko Pehkonen, 2020. "Income and Mental Well-Being: Personality Traits as Moderators," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 547-571, February.
    8. Peggy Schyns, 2001. "Income and Satisfaction in Russia," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 2(2), pages 173-204, June.
    9. Johannes Haushofer & Jeremy Shapiro, 2016. "The Short-term Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers to the Poor: ExperimentalEvidence from Kenya," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 131(4), pages 1973-2042.
    10. Hilary Hoynes & Jesse Rothstein, 2019. "Universal Basic Income in the United States and Advanced Countries," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 11(1), pages 929-958, August.
    11. Magdalena Bobowik & Nekane Basabe & Darío Páez & Amaia Jiménez & M. Bilbao, 2011. "Personal Values and Well-Being among Europeans, Spanish Natives and Immigrants to Spain: Does the Culture Matter?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 401-419, June.
    12. Helliwell, John F., 2003. "How's life? Combining individual and national variables to explain subjective well-being," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 331-360, March.
    13. Paul Frijters & John P. Haisken-DeNew & Michael A. Shields, 2004. "Money Does Matter! Evidence from Increasing Real Income and Life Satisfaction in East Germany Following Reunification," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(3), pages 730-740, June.
    14. Yakovlev, Pavel & Leguizamon, Susane, 2012. "Ignorance is not bliss: On the role of education in subjective well-being," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 41(6), pages 806-815.
    15. Rosseel, Yves, 2012. "lavaan: An R Package for Structural Equation Modeling," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 48(i02).
    16. Christoph K. Becker & Stefan T. Trautmann, 2022. "Does Happiness Increase in Old Age? Longitudinal Evidence from 20 European Countries," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 3625-3654, October.
    17. Michael Eid & Ed Diener, 2004. "Global Judgments of Subjective Well-Being: Situational Variability and Long-Term Stability," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 65(3), pages 245-277, February.
    18. Katja Kokko & Anni Korkalainen & Anna-Liisa Lyyra & Taru Feldt, 2013. "Structure and Continuity of Well-Being in Mid-Adulthood: A Longitudinal Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 99-114, March.
    19. William Meredith & John Tisak, 1990. "Latent curve analysis," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 55(1), pages 107-122, March.
    20. Jule Specht & Boris Egloff & Stefan C. Schmukle, 2011. "Stability and Change of Personality across the Life Course: The Impact of Age and Major Life Events on Mean-Level and Rank-Order Stability of the Big Five," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 377, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    21. Andrew T. Jebb & Louis Tay & Ed Diener & Shigehiro Oishi, 2018. "Happiness, income satiation and turning points around the world," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 33-38, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Julia Malinka & Kristin Mitte & Matthias Ziegler, 2024. "Universal Basic Income and Autonomous Work Motivation: Influences on Trajectories of Mental Health in Employees," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(4), pages 1967-1996, August.
    2. Can Mavruk & Ersin Kıral & Gülsen Kıral, 2021. "Spatial Effects Over Time-Framed Happiness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 517-554, February.
    3. Worawan Chandoevwit & Kannika Thampanishvong, 2016. "Valuing Social Relationships and Improved Health Condition Among the Thai Population," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(5), pages 2167-2189, October.
    4. Frijters, Paul & Beatton, Tony, 2012. "The mystery of the U-shaped relationship between happiness and age," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 82(2), pages 525-542.
    5. Schurer, Stefanie & Yong, Jongsay, 2012. "Personality, well-being and the marginal utility of income: What can we learn from random coefficient models?," Working Paper Series 18617, Victoria University of Wellington, School of Economics and Finance.
    6. Di Tella, Rafael & Haisken-De New, John & MacCulloch, Robert, 2010. "Happiness adaptation to income and to status in an individual panel," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 76(3), pages 834-852, December.
    7. Christopher L Ambrey & Christopher M Fleming & Matthew Manning, 2013. "The life satisfaction approach to estimating the cost of crime: An individual's willingness-to-pay for crime reduction," Discussion Papers in Economics economics:201301, Griffith University, Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics.
    8. David G. Blanchflower, 2009. "International Evidence on Well-Being," NBER Chapters, in: Measuring the Subjective Well-Being of Nations: National Accounts of Time Use and Well-Being, pages 155-226, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Mona Ahmadiani & Susana Ferreira & Jacqueline Kessler, 2022. "What Makes People Happy? Evidence from International Data," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 2083-2111, June.
    10. Tekin Kose & Julide Yildirim & Gizem Tanrivere, 2017. "The Effects of Terrorism on Happiness: Evidence from Turkey," EcoMod2017 10229, EcoMod.
    11. Michael Landesmann & Isilda Mara, 2013. "Do I Stay because I am Happy or am I Happy because I Stay? Life Satisfaction in Migration, and the Decision to Stay Permanently, Return and Out-migrate," wiiw Working Papers 103, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    12. Satoshi Araki & Francisco Olivos, 2024. "Low Income, Ill-being, and Gender Inequality: Explaining Cross-National Variation in the Gendered Risk of Suffering Among the Poor," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 174(1), pages 157-220, August.
    13. Mentzakis, Emmanouil & Moro, Mirko, 2009. "The poor, the rich and the happy: Exploring the link between income and subjective well-being," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 147-158, January.
    14. Gabriela Mihaela Mureșan & Melinda Timea Fülöp & Cristina Ciumaș, 2021. "The Road from Money to Happiness," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-13, September.
    15. Christopher Ambrey & Christopher Fleming, 2014. "Life Satisfaction in Australia: Evidence from Ten Years of the HILDA Survey," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 115(2), pages 691-714, January.
    16. Andrew E. Clark, 2019. "Born to Be Mild? Cohort Effects Don’t (Fully) Explain Why Well-Being Is U-Shaped in Age," Springer Books, in: Mariano Rojas (ed.), The Economics of Happiness, chapter 0, pages 387-408, Springer.
    17. Hania Wu & Tony Tam, 2015. "Economic Development and Socioeconomic Inequality of Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Time-Series Analysis of Urban China, 2003–2011," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 124(2), pages 401-425, November.
    18. Naoki Akaeda, 2020. "Contextual Social Trust and Well-Being Inequality: From the Perspectives of Education and Income," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(8), pages 2957-2979, December.
    19. Selezneva, Ekaterina, 2011. "Surveying transitional experience and subjective well-being: Income, work, family," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 139-157, June.
    20. Schurer, S. & Yong, J., 2012. "Personality, well-being and the marginal utility of income: What can we learn from random coefficient models?," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 12/01, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:26:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10902-024-00831-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.