National Happiness and Genetic Distance: A Cautious Exploration

Eugenio Proto and Andrew Oswald

No 5659, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: This paper studies a famous unsolved puzzle in quantitative social science. Why do some nations report such high levels of mental well-being? Denmark, for instance, regularly tops the league table of rich countries’ happiness; Britain and the US enter further down; some nations do unexpectedly poorly. The explanation for the long-observed ranking -- one that holds after adjustment for GDP and other socioeconomic variables -- is currently unknown. Using data on 131 countries, the paper cautiously explores a new approach. It documents three forms of evidence consistent with the hypothesis that some nations may have a genetic advantage in well-being.

Keywords: well-being; international; happiness; genes; 5-HTT; countries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I30 I31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Related works:
Journal Article: National Happiness and Genetic Distance: A Cautious Exploration (2017)
Working Paper: National Happiness and Genetic Distance: A Cautious Exploration (2016)
Working Paper: National Happiness and Genetic Distance: A Cautious Exploration (2016)
Working Paper: National Happiness and Genetic Distance: A Cautious Exploration (2016)
Working Paper: National Happiness and Genetic Distance: A Cautious Exploration (2014)
Working Paper: National Happiness and Genetic Distance: A Cautious Exploration (2014)
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