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Age, Life-satisfaction, and Relative Income – Insights from the UK and Germany

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  • Felix R., FitzRoy
  • Michael, Nolan
  • Max F., Steinhardt

Abstract

We first confirm previous results with the German Socio-Economic Panel by Layard et al. (2010), and obtain strong negative effects of comparison income. However, when we split the sample by age, we find quite different results for reference income. The effects on lifesatisfaction are positive and significant for those under 45, consistent with Hirschman’s (1973) ‘tunnel effect’, and only negative (and larger than in the full sample) for those over 45, when relative deprivation dominates. Thus for young respondents, reference income’s signalling role, indicating potential future prospects, can outweigh relative deprivation effects. Own-income effects are also larger for the older sample, and of greater magnitude than the comparison income effect. In East Germany the reference income effects are insignificant for all. With data from the British Household Panel Survey, we confirm standard results when encompassing all ages, but reference income loses significance in both age groups, and most surprisingly, even own income becomes insignificant for those over 45, while education has significant negative effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Felix R., FitzRoy & Michael, Nolan & Max F., Steinhardt, 2013. "Age, Life-satisfaction, and Relative Income – Insights from the UK and Germany," SIRE Discussion Papers 2013-51, Scottish Institute for Research in Economics (SIRE).
    • Handle: RePEc:edn:sirdps:478
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10943/478
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Piper, Alan T., 2015. "Sliding down the U-shape? A dynamic panel investigation of the age-well-being relationship, focusing on young adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 54-61.
    2. Piper, Alan T., 2014. "Sliding down the U-shape? An investigation of the age-well-being relationship, with a focus on young adults," MPRA Paper 55819, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    Keywords

    subjective life-satisfaction; comparison income; reference groups; age; welfare;
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