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International Differences In The Determinants Of Life Satisfaction

In: New And Enduring Themes In Development Economics

Author

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  • JOHN F. HELLIWELL

    (Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and Department of Economics, University of British Columbia, Canada)

  • HAIFANG HUANG

    (Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and Department of Economics, University of British Columbia, Canada)

  • ANTHONY HARRIS

    (Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and Department of Economics, University of British Columbia, Canada)

Abstract

This paper uses measures of life satisfaction, drawn from the first wave of well-being data now being collected annually by the Gallup World Poll, to investigate differences across countries, cultures and regions, in the factors linked to differences in life satisfaction. We first examine two-level global and regional equations for life satisfaction covering 105 countries, paying special attention to several key variables: income, age, attainment of basic needs (as represented by presence of running water, and having sufficient food), having someone to count on, perceived corruption levels, and perceived sense of freedom. We then estimate and compare the coefficients of cross-sectional life satisfaction equations for each of the 105 countries. While many of the key variables affecting life satisfaction have quite comparable effects in almost all countries, we are nonetheless able to identify some interesting regional and other cross-country differences.

Suggested Citation

  • John F. Helliwell & Haifang Huang & Anthony Harris, 2009. "International Differences In The Determinants Of Life Satisfaction," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Bhaskar Dutta & Tridip Ray & E Somanathan (ed.), New And Enduring Themes In Development Economics, chapter 1, pages 3-40, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:wschap:9789812839428_0001
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Hideyuki Mizobuchi, 2017. "Measuring Socio-economic Factors and Sensitivity of Happiness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 463-504, April.
    2. John F. Helliwell & Christopher P. Barrington-Leigh & Anthony Harris & Haifang Huang, 2009. "International Evidence on the Social Context of Well-Being," NBER Working Papers 14720, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Arnaud Joskin, 2018. "Working Paper 02-18 - Mesurer le bien-être en Belgique - Construction d’un indicateur composite pour mesurer le bien-être actuel des Belges [Working Paper 02-18 - Het welzijn in België meten - Opbo," Working Papers 1802, Federal Planning Bureau, Belgium.
    4. Fabio Sabatini & Francesco Sarracino, 2017. "Online Networks and Subjective Well-Being," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 70(3), pages 456-480, August.
    5. Francesco Sarracino, 2014. "Richer in Money, Poorer in Relationships and Unhappy? Time Series Comparisons of Social Capital and Well-Being in Luxembourg," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 115(2), pages 561-622, January.
    6. Arnaud Joskin, 2017. "Working Paper 04-17 - Qu’est-ce qui compte pour les Belges ? Analyse des déterminants du bien-être individuel en Belgique [Working Paper 04-17 - Wat telt voor de Belgen? Analyse van de determinante," Working Papers 1704, Federal Planning Bureau, Belgium.
    7. William A. V. Clark & William Lisowski, 2018. "Wellbeing across individuals and places: How much does social capital matter?," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 35(3), pages 217-236, September.

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