Healthy and happy in Europe? On the association between happiness and life expectancy over time

Christian Bjørnskov

Social Science & Medicine, 2008, vol. 66, issue 8, 1750-1759

Abstract: This paper revisits the standard finding in individual-level studies that happiness leads to longevity. It does so in a cross-country time-series analysis in which the use of a random effects estimator controls for most relevant time-invariant factors. The findings suggest that happiness is negatively associated with longevity at the national level, and suggests a potential indirect transmission channel, as national happiness is negatively associated with public health expenditures. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of the results for public policy and future research.

Keywords: Happiness Life expectancy Panel data Europe; cross-national Health expenditure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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