¿How does the use of social networks affect happiness?

Leonardo A. Caravaggio ()
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Leonardo A. Caravaggio: Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires.

Revista de Economía Política de Buenos Aires, 2024, issue 28, 57-100

Abstract: This paper analyzes the impact of social media usage on the subjective well-being of the Latin American population in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the significant process of life digitization as a consequence of the pandemic (due to restrictive measures and care decisions), the causal effects of social media usage on well-being are examined. For the first time, the specific case of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America is analyzed using a novel empirical strategy. A quantile regression model with instrumental variables is employed, allowing for the consideration of causal effects and the avoidance of endogeneity in both variables (using smartphone ownership as an instrument), and the impact across the well-being distribution. This knowledge could lead to the adoption of more targeted public policies.

Keywords: Happiness; Well-being; Social Networks; COVID-19; IVQR (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J01 J81 N36 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ake:repba1:y:2024:i:28:p:57-100

DOI: 10.56503/repba.Nro.28(18)/2974

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