Unhappiness and Pain in Modern America: A Review Essay, and Further Evidence, on Carol Graham's Happiness for All?

David G. Blanchflower and Andrew Oswald

Journal of Economic Literature, 2019, vol. 57, issue 2, 385-402

Abstract: In Happiness for All? Unequal Hopes and Lives in the Pursuit of the American Dream, Carol Graham raises disquieting ideas about today's United States. The challenge she puts forward is an important one. Here we review the intellectual case and offer additional evidence. We conclude broadly on the author's side. Strikingly, Americans appear to be in greater pain than citizens of other countries, and most subgroups of citizens have downwardly trended happiness levels. There is, however, one bright side to an otherwise dark story. The happiness of black Americans has risen strongly since the 1970s. It is now almost equal to that of white Americans.

JEL-codes: D31 I12 I31 J15 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
Note: DOI: 10.1257/jel.20171492
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Unhappiness and Pain in Modern America: A Review Essay, and Further Evidence, on Carol Graham’s Happiness for All? (2018)
Working Paper: Unhappiness and Pain in Modern America: A Review Essay, and Further Evidence, on Carol Graham's Happiness for All? (2017)
Working Paper: Unhappiness and Pain in Modern America: A Review Essay, and Further Evidence, on Carol Graham’s Happiness for All? (2017)
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