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Life Satisfaction and Inequality in Slovakia: The Role of Income, Consumption and Wealth

Author

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  • Biswajit Banerjee

    (Ashoka University)

  • Peter Toth

    (University of Economics in Bratislava, Slovakia)

Abstract

In recent years, a small number of studies have emphasized that subjective well-being of individuals depends not only on income but also consumption and wealth. However, only a few have examined the influence of all three variables simultaneously. Empirical studies have also analyzed the role of self-centered and community-centered inequalities but the inclusion of both measures in the same specification is scarce. In a departure from much of the existing literature, this paper analyzes concurrently the influence of all three economic well-being indicators and both types of inequalities on subjective well-being. We find that absolute levels of income, consumption and wealth all have a significant positive effect that remains robust even after the inclusion of self-centered and community-centered inequalities in the regression equations. The evidence indicates that both types of inequalities are important considerations for subjective well-being, but with different influences. Self-centered inequality measured using reference group average has a positive signalling effect, while inequality defined by the position of an individual within the distribution of the relevant economic well-being indicator has a negative comparison effect. Whereas community-centered inequality in income has a positive signalling effect, consumption and wealth inequalities have a negative comparison effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Biswajit Banerjee & Peter Toth, 2023. "Life Satisfaction and Inequality in Slovakia: The Role of Income, Consumption and Wealth," Working Papers 106, Ashoka University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ash:wpaper:106
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Community-centered inequality;

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth

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