Longitudinal evidence for a midlife nadir in human well-being: Results from four data sets

Terence Cheng (), Nattavudh Powdthavee and Andrew Oswald

LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library

Abstract: There is a large amount of cross-sectional evidence for a midlife low in the life cycle of human happiness and well-being (a ‘U shape’). Yet no genuinely longitudinal inquiry has uncovered evidence for a U-shaped pattern. Thus, some researchers believe the U is a statistical artefact. We re-examine this fundamental cross-disciplinary question. We suggest a new test. Drawing on four data sets, and only within-person changes in well-being, we document powerful support for a U shape in longitudinal data (without the need for formal regression equations). The article's methodological contribution is to use the first-derivative properties of a well-being equation.

JEL-codes: J1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-02-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hap, nep-hpe and nep-ltv
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (71)

Published in The Economic Journal, 1, February, 2017, 127(599), pp. 126-142. ISSN: 0013-0133

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http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/65168/ Open access version. (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Longitudinal Evidence for a Midlife Nadir in Human Well‐being: Results from Four Data Sets (2017)
Working Paper: Longitudinal Evidence for a Midlife Nadir in Human Well-being: Results from Four Data Sets (2014)
Working Paper: Longitudinal Evidence for a Midlife Nadir in Human Well-being: Results from Four Data Sets (2014)
Working Paper: Longitudinal Evidence for a Midlife Nadir in Human Well-being: Results from Four Data Sets (2014)
Working Paper: Longitudinal Evidence for a Midlife Nadir in Human Wellbeing: Results from Four Data Sets (2014)
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