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Adaptation and the Easterlin Paradox

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  • Andrew E. Clark

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

The Easterlin paradox has captured a great deal of attention across social science. The fundamental question behind this paradox is whether income is associated with subjective well-being, where the latter is often measured by single-item questions on happiness or life satisfaction. The broad consensus that has been reached is that, within country, richer people are on average happier than poorer people, and that richer countries are on general happier than poorer countries. As such, the cross-section relationship between income and subjective well-being is positive.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew E. Clark, 2016. "Adaptation and the Easterlin Paradox," Post-Print halshs-01383907, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01383907
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    Cited by:

    1. Kaiser, Caspar, 2018. "People do not adapt to income changes: A re-evaluation of the dynamic effects of (reference) income on life satisfaction with GSOEP and UKHLS data," MPRA Paper 89867, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Milena Nikolova & Boris Nikolaev & Olga Popova, 2021. "The perceived well-being and health costs of exiting self-employment," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1819-1836, December.
    3. Jianbo Jeff Luo, 2022. "Is Work a Burden? The Role of the Living Standard," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 163(1), pages 61-77, August.
    4. Andrew E. Clark & Conchita D’Ambrosio & Simone Ghislandi, 2016. "Adaptation to Poverty in Long-Run Panel Data," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 98(3), pages 591-600, July.
    5. Svavarsdottir, Gudrun & Clark, Andrew E. & Stefansson, Gunnar & Asgeirsdottir, Tinna Laufey, 2024. "Where does money matter more?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 350-365.
    6. Kaiser, Caspar, 2020. "People do not adapt. New analyses of the dynamic effects of own and reference income on life satisfaction," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 494-513.
    7. Marisa Bucheli & Andrea Vigorito, 2023. "Well-being, time use, and women's empowerment after couple separation: Longitudinal evidence for Uruguay," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 23-05, Instituto de Economía - IECON.
    8. Milena Nikolova & Sinem H. Ayhan, 2019. "Your spouse is fired! How much do you care?," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 32(3), pages 799-844, July.
    9. Etilé, Fabrice & Frijters, Paul & Johnston, David W. & Shields, Michael A., 2020. "Psychological Resilience to Major Socioeconomic Life Events," IZA Discussion Papers 13063, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Andrew E. Clark & Luis Diaz-Serrano, 2023. "Do individuals adapt to all types of housing transitions?," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 645-672, June.
    11. Gonzalo Salas & Andrea Vigorito, 2019. "Subjective Well-Being and Adaptation. The Case of Uruguay," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 14(3), pages 685-703, July.
    12. Nikolova, Milena, 2016. "Happiness and Development," IZA Discussion Papers 10088, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Nikolova Milena & Popova Olga, 2021. "Sometimes Your Best Just Ain’t Good Enough: The Worldwide Evidence on Subjective Well-being Efficiency," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 21(1), pages 83-114, January.
    14. Giorgio Calcagnini & Francesco Perugini, 2019. "A Well-Being Indicator for the Italian Provinces," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 142(1), pages 149-177, February.
    15. Merz, Joachim, 2022. "Are Retirees More Satisfied? Anticipation and Adaptation Effects: A Causal Panel Analysis of German Statutory Insured and Civil Service Pensioners," IZA Discussion Papers 15140, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    16. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Vassilis Tselios, 2019. "Well-being, Political Decentralisation and Governance Quality in Europe," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(1), pages 69-93, January.
    17. Etilé, Fabrice & Frijters, Paul & Johnston, David W. & Shields, Michael A., 2021. "Measuring resilience to major life events," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 598-619.
    18. Hovi Matti & Laamanen Jani-Petri, 2017. "Adaptation and Loss Aversion in the Relationship between GDP and Subjective Well-being," Working Papers 1717, Tampere University, Faculty of Management and Business, Economics.
    19. Fabrice Etilé & Paul Frijters & David W. Johson & Michael A. Shields, 2017. "Modelling Heterogeneity in the Resilience to Major Socioeconomic Life Events," Working Papers halshs-01485989, HAL.
    20. Merz, Joachim, 2018. "Are Retirees More Satisfied? Anticipation and Adaptation Effects of Retirement on Subjective Well-Being: A Panel Analysis for Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 11832, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    21. Joachim Merz, 2018. "Are Retirees More Satisfied? – Anticipation and Adaptation Effects of Retirement on Subjective Well-Being: A Panel Analysis for Germany," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 986, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    22. Joachim Merz, 2022. "Are Retirees More Satisfied? Anticipation and Adaptation Effects: A Causal Panel Analysis of German Statutory Insured and Civil Service Pensioners," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 1163, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    23. Nikolova, Milena & Popova, Olga, 2017. "Sometimes Your Best Just Ain't Good Enough: The Worldwide Evidence on Well-Being Efficiency," IZA Discussion Papers 10774, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    24. Beja, Edsel Jr., 2018. "Testing the Easterlin Paradox: Results and Policy Implications," MPRA Paper 101075, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    25. Marco Le Moglie & Letizia Mencarini & Chiara Rapallini, 2019. "Does income moderate the satisfaction of becoming a parent? In Germany it does and depends on education," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 32(3), pages 915-952, July.

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