Born to be mild? Cohort effects don't explain why well-being is U-shaped in age

Andrew Clark ()

PSE Working Papers from PSE (Ecole normale supérieure)

Abstract: The statistical analysis of cross-section data very often reveals a U-shaped relationship between subjective well-being and age. This paper uses fourteen waves of British panel data to distinguish between a pure life-cycle or aging effect, and a fixed cohort effect that depends on year of birth. Panel analysis controlling for fixed effects continues to produce a U-shaped relationship between well-being and age, although this U-shape is flatter for life satisfaction than for the GHQ measure of mental well-being. The pattern of the estimated cohort effects differs between the two well-being measures and, to an extent, by demographic group. In particular, those born earlier report more positive GHQ scores, controlling for their current age; this phenomenon is especially found for women.

New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe and nep-ltv
Date: 2006
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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pse:psecon:2006-35

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