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Socio-Economic Inequalities in Happiness in China and U.S

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  • Kit-Chun Lam
  • Pak-Wai Liu

Abstract

Our paper studies the determinants of happiness in China and U.S. and provides a better understanding of the issue of inequalities in happiness beyond income inequality. Based on the two waves of nation-wide survey data on happiness collected by World Values Survey in 1995 and 2007, Probit and ordinary least square methods are used to estimate effects of various factors on happiness. Our findings show that socio-economic inequalities increase inequalities in happiness in China. The poor are the least happy even though the income effect flats out at the high end. Individuals with below high school education attainment are less happy than those with more education. Agricultural workers are the most unhappy and are becoming even more unhappy over time. However, in U.S., there is no systematic difference in happiness across income and education groups and between agricultural and non-agricultural workers. In both countries health is a major factor contributing to happiness. Our study implies that adequate provision of national health care services should be an effective way to improve social welfare. Besides, since the probability of being happy for agricultural workers is still considerably less after controlling for income in China, policies to improve their welfare should not be limited to enhancing current income. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Kit-Chun Lam & Pak-Wai Liu, 2014. "Socio-Economic Inequalities in Happiness in China and U.S," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 116(2), pages 509-533, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:116:y:2014:i:2:p:509-533
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-013-0283-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Junyi Zhang & Yubing Xiong, 2015. "Effects of multifaceted consumption on happiness in life: a case study in Japan based on an integrated approach," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 62(2), pages 143-162, June.
    2. Silvia Emili & Federica Galli, 2022. "Self-perceptions and perceptions of peers: their role in understanding expenditure behaviours," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 4573-4597, December.
    3. Huaxing Liu & Hong Gao & Qing Huang, 2020. "Better Government, Happier Residents? Quality of Government and Life Satisfaction in China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 147(3), pages 971-990, February.
    4. Xin Xu & Yuan Zhao & Siyou Xia & Panpan Cui & Wenmin Tang & Xiaoliang Hu & Bei Wu, 2022. "Quality of Life and Its Influencing Factors Among Centenarians in Nanjing, China: A Cross-Sectional Study," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 735-755, April.
    5. Shaojie Zhou & Xiaohua Yu, 2017. "Regional Heterogeneity of Life Satisfaction in Urban China: Evidence from Hierarchical Ordered Logit Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(1), pages 25-45, May.

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