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The Political Economy of Human Happiness

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  • Radcliff,Benjamin

Abstract

Data, methods and theories of contemporary social science can be applied to resolve how political outcomes in democratic societies determine the quality of life that citizens experience. Radcliff seeks to provide an objective answer to the debate between left and right over what public policies best contribute to people leading positive and rewarding lives. Radcliff offers an empirical answer, relying on the same canons of reason and evidence required of any other issue amenable to study through social-scientific means. The analysis focuses on the consequences of three specific political issues: the welfare state and the general size of government, labor organization, and state efforts to protect workers and consumers through economic regulation. The results indicate that in each instance, the program of the Left best contributes to citizens leading more satisfying lives and, critically, that the benefits of greater happiness accrue to everyone in society, rich and poor alike.

Suggested Citation

  • Radcliff,Benjamin, 2013. "The Political Economy of Human Happiness," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107644427, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:cbooks:9781107644427
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jan Ott, 2018. "Measuring Economic Freedom: Better Without Size of Government," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 135(2), pages 479-498, January.
    2. Jan Ott, 2017. "Less Happiness in Cities, but Why and so What? One More Reason to Stop Overpopulation," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 625-630, April.
    3. Benjamin Radcliff & Gregory Shufeldt, 2016. "Direct Democracy and Subjective Well-Being: The Initiative and Life Satisfaction in the American States," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 128(3), pages 1405-1423, September.
    4. Eugenio Proto & Andrew J. Oswald, 2017. "National Happiness and Genetic Distance: A Cautious Exploration," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 127(604), pages 2127-2152, September.
    5. Robert Davidson & Alexander Pacek & Benjamin Radcliff, 2021. "Public Sector Employment, Quality of Government, and Well-Being: A Global Analysis," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 24(3), pages 193-204, September.
    6. Andre P. Audette & Sean Lam & Haley O’Connor & Benjamin Radcliff, 2019. "(E)Quality of Life: A Cross-National Analysis of the Effect of Gender Equality on Life Satisfaction," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(7), pages 2173-2188, October.
    7. Nimish Adhia, 2017. "Happiness Economics and Its Discontents," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 32(Spring 20), pages 77-88.
    8. Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn & Lonnie Golden, 2018. "Happiness is Flextime," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 13(2), pages 355-369, June.
    9. Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn & Rubia Rocha Valente, 2018. "Life Satisfaction of Career Women and Housewives," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 13(3), pages 603-632, September.
    10. Davide Olori & Marta Menghi, 2017. "Edilizia pubblica post-sisma: un caso paradigmatico di governo del territorio," PRISMA Economia - Societ? - Lavoro, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2017(3), pages 58-77.
    11. Alexander Pacek & Benjamin Radcliff & Mark Brockway, 2019. "Well-Being and the Democratic State: How the Public Sector Promotes Human Happiness," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 143(3), pages 1147-1159, June.
    12. David Patiño & Francisco Gómez-García & Alejandro Marín-Serrano, 2022. "Subjective Well-Being and Aversion to Macroeconomic Losses: New Evidence," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 359-375, February.
    13. Bonasia, Mariangela & Napolitano, Oreste & Spagnolo, Fabio & Spagnolo, Nicola, 2022. "The economic and welfare state determinants of well-being in Europe," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 49-57.
    14. Ahmadiani, Mona & Ferreira, Susana, 2019. "Environmental amenities and quality of life across the United States," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1-1.
    15. Ronald Kwon & Kevin McCaffree & Caroline Taylor, 2020. "The Impact of Muslim Religious Accommodations on Subjective Well‐Being Among Christian Majorities and Nonattendees: Evidence from the European Social Survey, 2002–2008," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 101(4), pages 1552-1571, July.
    16. Iban Ortuzar & Gemma Renart & Angels Xabadia, 2021. "Effects of Public Healthcare Budget Cuts on Life Satisfaction in Spain," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 156(1), pages 311-337, July.
    17. Gil Hersch, 2018. "Ignoring Easterlin: Why Easterlin’s Correlation Findings Need Not Matter to Public Policy," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(8), pages 2225-2241, December.
    18. Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn & Leszek Morawski, 2021. "Effect of Volunteering and Pensions on Subjective Wellbeing of Elderly–are there Cross-Country Differences?," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(5), pages 1943-1959, October.
    19. Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn & Joan Maya Mazelis, 2017. "More Unequal in Income, More Unequal in Wellbeing," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(3), pages 953-975, July.

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