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Subjective Well-being in Greater China: Broadening the Framing of Citizen Well-being in Public Policy

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  • Stephen Tay

Abstract

Citizens entrust the government with taking care of their well-being and most governments are committed to improving citizen well-being. Nevertheless, there is a divergence between government and citizen perceived notions of well-being. This divergence largely arises because bureaucratic policy making is rooted in measuring public policy outcomes of citizen well-being in objective indicators that underemphasise the importance of subjective well-being. Using the case of three Greater China societies of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, this article highlights the importance of socio-psychological factors and subjective perceptions of income inequality in affecting subjective well-being in Greater China. Thus, public policy makers should broaden the framing of well-being in the form of objective and subjective well-being and apply the appropriate policy measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Tay, 2013. "Subjective Well-being in Greater China: Broadening the Framing of Citizen Well-being in Public Policy," Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(1), pages 71-92, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rapaxx:v:35:y:2013:i:1:p:71-92
    DOI: 10.1080/23276665.2013.10779397
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    1. Takashi Oshio & Kayo Nozaki & Miki Kobayashi, 2011. "Relative Income and Happiness in Asia: Evidence from Nationwide Surveys in China, Japan, and Korea," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 104(3), pages 351-367, December.
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