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A microeconometric analysis of housing and life satisfaction among the Vietnamese elderly

Author

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  • Tuyen Quang Tran

    (Vietnam National University, Hanoi)

  • Huong Vu

    (Academy of Finance)

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between housing and subjective well-being among the Vietnamese elderly, using data from the 2011 Vietnam Ageing Survey. Our regression analysis reveals that permanent housing and better amenities are major factors contributing to housing satisfaction and life satisfaction. Notably, we find that housing satisfaction has a strongly positive impact on life satisfaction and the impact is stronger after controlling for endogeneity problems. Thus, the finding confirms that housing is an important life domain and as a result, housing satisfaction is a strong predictor of life-satisfaction judgments. The findings might suggest that people made a rational choice when they invested a large amount of resources in their houses with notable well-being gains. Also, another implication here is that policies and programs to assist poor families in moving out of temporary accommodation or improving housing amenities are likely to be beneficial in improving well-being for the poor elderly.

Suggested Citation

  • Tuyen Quang Tran & Huong Vu, 2018. "A microeconometric analysis of housing and life satisfaction among the Vietnamese elderly," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 52(2), pages 849-867, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:52:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s11135-017-0492-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11135-017-0492-9
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    3. Javier Reyes-Martínez & David Takeuchi & Oscar A. Martínez-Martínez & Margaret Lombe, 2021. "The Role of Cultural Participation on Subjective Well-Being in Mexico," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(3), pages 1321-1341, June.
    4. Erda Wang & Nannan Kang, 2019. "Does life satisfaction matter for pro-environmental behavior? Empirical evidence from China General Social Survey," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 449-469, January.
    5. Simla Güzel & Ayhan Görmüş, 2023. "Prediction of satisfaction indicators increasing the level of happiness: evidence from the Turkish life satisfaction survey," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 3805-3824, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Aging; Elderly; Endogeneity; Housing satisfaction; Subjective well-being; Vietnam;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D4 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design
    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • D6 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics

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