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Permanent Income and Subjective Well-Being

Author

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  • Albert Park

    (Department of Economics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Institute for Emerging Market Studies, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

  • Shu Cai

    (Department of Economics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

We provide a new explanation for the stronger relationship between income and subjective wellbeing (SWB) found in cross-sectional versus panel studies based on the predictions of a rational expectations model of utility maximization with permanent and transitory income shocks. The model predicts that SWB is affected by unanticipated rather than anticipated income, and is more influenced by permanent rather than transitory income shocks. We hypothesize that share of cross-sectional income variation accounted for by permanent income is greater than the share of changes in income over time accounted for by unanticipated shocks to permanent income. We test our predictions using a unique panel dataset from rural China which includes subjective expectations of future income and actual income in each wave, enabling us to separately identify the effects of unanticipated permanent and transitory income shocks. The results confirm the predictions, providing support for the importance of permanent income in explaining SWB.

Suggested Citation

  • Albert Park & Shu Cai, 2015. "Permanent Income and Subjective Well-Being," HKUST IEMS Working Paper Series 2015-08, HKUST Institute for Emerging Market Studies, revised Feb 2015.
    • Handle: RePEc:hku:wpaper:201508
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    2. Ahn, Jiyeon & Ahn, Taehyun & Kim, Seonghoon, 2024. "Is Subjective Well-Being Insured Against Income Shocks? Evidence from 20-Year Panel Data in South Korea," IZA Discussion Papers 17514, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Tetsuya Tsurumi & Rintaro Yamaguchi & Kazuki Kagohashi & Shunsuke Managi, 2021. "Are Cognitive, Affective, and Eudaimonic Dimensions of Subjective Well-Being Differently Related to Consumption? Evidence from Japan," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 2499-2522, August.
    4. Shu Cai & Albert Park & Winnie Yip, 2022. "Migration and experienced utility of left-behind parents: evidence from rural China," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(3), pages 1225-1259, July.
    5. Yan Meng & Shi Kai, 2019. "Subjective Well-Being and Job Types: New Evidence From China," Economics and Culture, Sciendo, vol. 16(1), pages 24-31, June.
    6. Qiu, Hua & Sha, Yezhou & Zhang, Yixing, 2024. "Energy affordability and subjective well-being in China: Causal inference, heterogeneity, and the mediating role of disaster risk," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    7. Cai, Shu & Wang, Jia, 2018. "Less advantaged, more optimistic? Subjective well-being among rural, migrant and urban populations in contemporary China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 95-110.

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    Keywords

    subjective well-being; permanent income; transitory income;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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