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Environment and Happiness: New Evidence for Spain

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  • Juncal Cuñado
  • Fernando Gracia

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between air pollution, climate and reported subjective well-being (or happiness) in Spanish regions. The results show that, after controlling for most of the socio-economic variables affecting happiness, there are still significant regional differences in subjective well-being. Evidence also suggests that climate and air pollution variables play a significant role in explaining these regional differences in happiness. The analysis also allows us to calculate the monetary value of air quality and climate, deriving the average marginal rate of substitution between income and air quality and climate for the Spanish regions. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Juncal Cuñado & Fernando Gracia, 2013. "Environment and Happiness: New Evidence for Spain," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 112(3), pages 549-567, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:112:y:2013:i:3:p:549-567
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-012-0038-4
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