Longitudinal Evidence for a Midlife Nadir in Human Well-being: Results from Four Data Sets

Terence Cheng (), Nattavudh Powdthavee and Andrew Oswald

No 7942, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: There is a large amount of cross-sectional evidence for a midlife low in the life cycle of human happiness and well-being (a 'U shape'). Yet no genuinely longitudinal inquiry has uncovered evidence for a U-shaped pattern. Thus some researchers believe the U is a statistical artefact. We re-examine this fundamental cross-disciplinary question. We suggest a new test. Drawing on four data sets, and only within-person changes in well-being, we document powerful support for a U-shape in unadjusted longitudinal data without the need for regression equations. The paper's methodological contribution is to exploit the first-derivative properties of a well-being equation.

Keywords: longitudinal study; subjective well-being; life-cycle happiness; U shape (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C18 D01 I31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 27 pages
Date: 2014-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem, nep-hap and nep-ltv
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

Published - published in: Economic Journal , 2017, 127 (599), 126 - 142

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Related works:
Journal Article: Longitudinal Evidence for a Midlife Nadir in Human Well‐being: Results from Four Data Sets (2017)
Working Paper: Longitudinal evidence for a midlife nadir in human well-being: Results from four data sets (2017)
Working Paper: Longitudinal Evidence for a Midlife Nadir in Human Well-being: Results from Four Data Sets (2014)
Working Paper: Longitudinal Evidence for a Midlife Nadir in Human Well-being: Results from Four Data Sets (2014)
Working Paper: Longitudinal Evidence for a Midlife Nadir in Human Wellbeing: Results from Four Data Sets (2014)
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