Details about Ruut Veenhoven

This author is deceased (2024-12-09).

Access statistics for papers by Ruut Veenhoven.

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Short-id: pve145

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Working Papers

2015

1. Unhappy development: dissatisfaction with life on the eve of the Arab spring
   Policy Research Working Paper Series, The World Bank View citations (14)
   See also Journal Article Unhappy Development: Dissatisfaction With Life on the Eve of the Arab Spring, Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth (2018) View citations (33) (2018)

2014

2. Financial Distress and Happiness of Employees in Times of Economic Crisis
   Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers, Tinbergen Institute View citations (2)
   See also Journal Article Financial distress and happiness of employees in times of economic crisis, Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals (2015) View citations (14) (2015)

2013

3. The Easterlin illusion: economic growth does go with greater happiness
   MPRA Paper, University Library of Munich, Germany View citations (28)
   See also Journal Article The Easterlin illusion: economic growth does go with greater happiness, International Journal of Happiness and Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd (2014) View citations (31) (2014)

2012

4. Evidence based pursuit of happiness: What should we know, do we know and can we get to know?
   MPRA Paper, University Library of Munich, Germany View citations (7)
5. Social Development and Happiness in Nations
   ISD Working Paper Series, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague View citations (3)
6. Why are Latin Europeans less happy? The impact of hierarchy
   MPRA Paper, University Library of Munich, Germany View citations (4)

2011

7. Life satisfaction in Nations
   MPRA Paper, University Library of Munich, Germany View citations (1)
8. World Database of Happiness Example of a focused ‘Findings Archive’
   RatSWD Working Papers, German Data Forum (RatSWD)
   Also in MPRA Paper, University Library of Munich, Germany (2011)

2009

9. The Establishment of the GENEQOL Consortium to Investigate the Genetic Disposition of Patient-Reported Quality-of-Life Outcomes
   RatSWD Working Papers, German Data Forum (RatSWD) View citations (1)

2008

10. How universal is happiness?
    MPRA Paper, University Library of Munich, Germany View citations (4)
11. Virtual Worlds as Petri Dishes for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
    RatSWD Working Papers, German Data Forum (RatSWD)

2007

12. Measures of Gross National Happiness
    MPRA Paper, University Library of Munich, Germany View citations (21)

2004

13. Subjective Measures of Well-being
    WIDER Working Paper Series, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER) View citations (23)
14. Sustainable consumption and happiness
    MPRA Paper, University Library of Munich, Germany View citations (5)

2001

15. Why social policy needs subjective indicators
    Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Social Structure and Social Reporting, WZB Berlin Social Science Center View citations (5)
    See also Journal Article Why Social Policy Needs Subjective Indicators, Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer (2002) View citations (105) (2002)

1992

16. Social equality and state welfare effort: More income-equality, no more equality in quality of life
    MPRA Paper, University Library of Munich, Germany

1990

17. Inequality in happiness: inequality in countries compared across countries
    MPRA Paper, University Library of Munich, Germany View citations (7)

Journal Articles

2025

1. Does Happiness Foster Social Bonds? A Research Synthesis Using an Online Finding Archive
   Journal of Happiness Studies, 2025, 26, (3), 1-31

2023

2. Editorial: Special Issue on Subjective Well-being and Mental Health in the Early Days of COVID-19
   Applied Research in Quality of Life, 2023, 18, (1), 1-8

2022

3. What is in the name? Content analysis of questionnaires on perceived quality of one’s work life
   Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, 2022, 56, (3), 1045-1072 View citations (1)

2021

4. Happiness and Consumption: A Research Synthesis Using an Online Finding Archive* â€
   SAGE Open, 2021, 11, (1), 2158244020986239 View citations (4)
5. Pioneer in Subjective Quality of Life Research: Willem Saris
   Applied Research in Quality of Life, 2021, 16, (3), 1395-1397
6. Will Healthy Eating Make You Happier? A Research Synthesis Using an Online Findings Archive
   Applied Research in Quality of Life, 2021, 16, (1), 221-240 View citations (1)

2020

7. Can Happiness Apps Generate Nationally Representative Datasets? - a Case Study Collecting Data on People’s Happiness Using the German Socio-Economic Panel
   Applied Research in Quality of Life, 2020, 15, (4), 1135-1149
8. Ways to Greater Happiness: A Delphi Study
   Journal of Happiness Studies, 2020, 21, (8), 2789-2806 View citations (1)

2019

9. Did the Easterlin Paradox apply in South Korea between 1980 and 2015? A case study
   International Review of Economics, 2019, 66, (4), 325-351 View citations (3)

2018

10. Co-development of Happiness Research: Addition to “Fifty Years After the Social Indicator Movement”
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2018, 135, (3), 1001-1007 View citations (1)
11. Contextual correlates of happiness in European adults
    PLOS ONE, 2018, 13, (1), 1-17 View citations (4)
12. Erratum to: Freedom and Happiness in Nations: A Research Synthesis
    Applied Research in Quality of Life, 2018, 13, (2), 457-459 View citations (10)
13. Freedom and Happiness in Nations: A Research Synthesis
    Applied Research in Quality of Life, 2018, 13, (2), 435-456 View citations (12)
14. How Does More Attention to Subjective Well-Being Affect Subjective Well-Being?
    Applied Research in Quality of Life, 2018, 13, (4), 1055-1080 View citations (5)
15. Life-satisfaction is more a matter of feeling well than having what you want. Tests of Veenhoven's theory
    International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2018, 4, (3), 209-235 View citations (8)
16. Unhappy Development: Dissatisfaction With Life on the Eve of the Arab Spring
    Review of Income and Wealth, 2018, 64, (s1), S80-S113 View citations (33)
    See also Working Paper Unhappy development: dissatisfaction with life on the eve of the Arab spring, Policy Research Working Paper Series (2015) View citations (14) (2015)

2017

17. Greater Happiness for a Greater Number: Did the Promise of Enlightenment Come True?
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2017, 130, (1), 9-25 View citations (8)
18. Mood during commute in the Netherlands
    Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2017, 104, (C), 195-208 View citations (13)
19. The ‘10 Excess’ Phenomenon in Responses to Survey Questions on Happiness
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2017, 131, (2), 853-870 View citations (1)

2016

20. Conversion of Verbal Response Scales: Robustness Across Demographic Categories
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2016, 126, (1), 331-358 View citations (1)
21. Happy Protest Voters: The Case of Rotterdam 1997–2009
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2016, 126, (2), 739-756 View citations (1)
22. Pooling Time Series Based on Slightly Different Questions About the Same Topic Forty Years of Survey Research on Happiness and Life Satisfaction in The Netherlands
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2016, 126, (2), 863-891 View citations (1)
23. Why are Locals Happier than Internal Migrants? The Role of Daily Life
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2016, 125, (2), 481-508 View citations (13)

2015

24. Consumption and happiness: an introduction
    International Review of Economics, 2015, 62, (2), 91-99 View citations (11)
25. Financial distress and happiness of employees in times of economic crisis
    Applied Economics Letters, 2015, 22, (3), 173-179 View citations (14)
    See also Working Paper Financial Distress and Happiness of Employees in Times of Economic Crisis, Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers (2014) View citations (2) (2014)
26. Geography of happiness: configurations of affective and cognitive appraisal of life across nations
    International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2015, 2, (2), 101-117 View citations (4)
27. Informed Pursuit of Happiness: What we should know, do know and can get to know
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2015, 16, (4), 1035-1071 View citations (13)
28. Stability of Boundaries Between Response Options of Response Scales: Does ‘Very Happy’ Remain Equally Happy over the Years?
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2015, 123, (1), 241-266

2014

29. Homogenizing Responses to Different Survey Questions on the Same Topic: Proposal of a Scale Homogenization Method Using a Reference Distribution
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2014, 117, (1), 275-300 View citations (11)
30. Index of Inequality-Adjusted Happiness (IAH) Improved: A Research Note
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2014, 15, (6), 1259-1265 View citations (4)
31. The Easterlin illusion: economic growth does go with greater happiness
    International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2014, 1, (4), 311-343 View citations (31)
    See also Working Paper The Easterlin illusion: economic growth does go with greater happiness, MPRA Paper (2013) View citations (28) (2013)

2013

32. Contentment and Affect in the Estimation of Happiness
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2013, 110, (2), 415-431 View citations (10)
33. Daily Activities and Happiness in Later Life: The Role of Work Status
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2013, 14, (5), 1507-1527 View citations (3)
34. Has modernisation gone too far? Modernity and happiness in 141 contemporary nations
    International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2013, 1, (2), 172-195 View citations (2)

2012

35. Does intelligence boost happiness? Smartness of all pays more than being smarter than others
    International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2012, 1, (1), 5-27 View citations (8)

2011

36. Do They Know How Happy They Are? On the Value of Self-Rated Happiness of People With a Mental Disorder
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2011, 12, (5), 793-806 View citations (2)
37. Finding the Key to Happy Aging: A Day Reconstruction Study of Happiness
    The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2011, 66B, (6), 665-674 View citations (10)
38. Happiness Scale Interval Study. Methodological Considerations
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2011, 102, (3), 497-515 View citations (9)

2010

39. Capability and happiness: Conceptual difference and reality links
    Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), 2010, 39, (3), 344-350 View citations (30)
40. Greater Happiness for a Greater Number
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2010, 11, (5), 605-629 View citations (32)
41. Life is Getting Better: Societal Evolution and Fit with Human Nature
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2010, 97, (1), 105-122 View citations (9)

2009

42. False Promise of Happiness
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2009, 10, (3), 385-386 View citations (2)
43. Well-Being in Nations and Well-Being of Nations
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2009, 91, (1), 5-21 View citations (26)

2008

44. Ancient Chinese philosophical advice: can it help us find happiness today?
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2008, 9, (3), 425-443 View citations (6)
45. Happiness in shrinking cities in Germany
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2008, 9, (2), 213-218 View citations (15)
46. Healthy happiness: effects of happiness on physical health and the consequences for preventive health care
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2008, 9, (3), 449-469 View citations (125)
47. Religiousness and happiness in three nations: a research note
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2008, 9, (2), 207-211 View citations (18)

2006

48. Rising Happiness in Nations 1946–2004: A Reply to Easterlin
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2006, 79, (3), 421-436 View citations (66)

2005

49. Apparent Quality-of-Life in Nations: How Long and Happy People Live
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2005, 71, (1), 61-86 View citations (40)
50. Inequality Of Happiness in Nations
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2005, 6, (4), 351-355 View citations (113)
51. Inequality-Adjusted Happiness in Nations Egalitarianism and Utilitarianism Married in a New Index of Societal Performance
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2005, 6, (4), 421-455 View citations (12)
52. Measuring Inequality of Happiness in Nations: In Search for Proper Statistics
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2005, 6, (4), 357-396 View citations (69)
53. Return of Inequality in Modern Society? Test by Dispersion of Life-Satisfaction Across Time and Nations
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2005, 6, (4), 457-487 View citations (45)
54. Review of Barry Schwartz “The Paradox of Choice. Why more is less” Harper & Collins, New York, USA 2004, ISBN 0-06-000568-8, 265 pages
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2005, 6, (1), 93-96 View citations (2)

2003

55. Arts-of-Living
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2003, 4, (4), 373-384 View citations (3)
56. Hedonism and Happiness
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2003, 4, (4), 437-457 View citations (17)
57. Notions of Art-of-Living
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2003, 4, (4), 345-349
58. Obituary Michael Argyle 1925–2002
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2003, 4, (3), 241-241
59. Wealth and Happiness Revisited – Growing National Income Does Go with Greater Happiness
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2003, 64, (1), 1-27 View citations (158)

2002

60. Why Social Policy Needs Subjective Indicators
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2002, 58, (1), 33-46 View citations (105)
    See also Working Paper Why social policy needs subjective indicators, Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Social Structure and Social Reporting (2001) View citations (5) (2001)

2001

61. Are the Russians as Unhappy as they say they are?
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2001, 2, (2), 111-136 View citations (29)
62. Preface
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2001, 2, (2), 93-94

2000

63. Editorial
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2000, 1, (1), 5-8
64. Introduction
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2000, 1, (4), 419-421
65. Stability of Life-satisfaction over Time
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2000, 1, (2), 177-205 View citations (85)
66. The Four Qualities of Life
    Journal of Happiness Studies, 2000, 1, (1), 1-39 View citations (177)

1999

67. Quality-of-Life in Individualistic Society
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1999, 48, (2), 159-188 View citations (60)

1998

68. Two State-Trait Discussions on Happiness. A Reply to Stones et al
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1998, 43, (3), 211-225 View citations (6)

1996

69. Developments in satisfaction-research
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1996, 37, (1), 1-46 View citations (165)
70. Happy life-expectancy
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1996, 39, (1), 1-58 View citations (36)

1995

71. Book reviews
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1995, 34, (1), 171-180
72. Livability of the welfare-state
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1995, 36, (1), 1-48 View citations (13)
73. The cross-national pattern of happiness: Test of predictions implied in three theories of happiness
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1995, 34, (1), 33-68 View citations (104)
74. World Database of Happiness
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1995, 34, (3), 299-313 View citations (19)

1994

75. Is happiness a trait?
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1994, 32, (2), 101-160 View citations (89)

1991

76. Is happiness relative?
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1991, 24, (1), 1-34 View citations (343)
77. Top-down versus bottom-up theories of subjective well-being
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1991, 24, (1), 81-100 View citations (92)

1988

78. The utility of happiness
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1988, 20, (4), 333-354 View citations (48)

1987

79. A comment on Kozma's review of Conditions of Happiness
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1987, 19, (2), 273-273
80. Cultural bias in ratings of perceived life quality
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1987, 19, (3), 329-334 View citations (2)
81. Lebensqualität in der bundesrepublik
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1987, 19, (3), 379-381

1986

82. Reviews
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1986, 18, (2), 221-231
83. Reviews
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1986, 18, (1), 125-127

1983

84. The growing impact of marriage
    Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 1983, 12, (1), 49-63 View citations (1)

Chapters

2020

1. World Database of Happiness: a ‘findings archive’
   Chapter 2 in Handbook on Wellbeing, Happiness and the Environment, 2020, pp 25-45 View citations (1)

2016

2. Quality of life and happiness: concepts and measures
   Chapter 14 in Handbook of Research Methods and Applications in Happiness and Quality of Life, 2016, pp 309-333

2009

3. How Do We Assess How Happy We Are? Tenets, Implications and Tenability of Three Theories
   Chapter 3 in Happiness, Economics and Politics, 2009 View citations (7)

2006

4. Quality-of-Life in the Modern Society Measured with Happy Life Years
   Palgrave Macmillan View citations (2)