IS THE STRUCTURE OF HAPPINESS EQUATIONS THE SAME IN POOR AND RICH COUNTRIES? THE CASE OF SOUTH AFRICA

Nattavudh Powdthavee

The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) from University of Warwick, Department of Economics

Abstract: Are happiness patterns structurally the same when comparing poor and rich countries? Using cross-sectional data from the SALDRU93 survey, we show that the relationships between subjective well-being and socioeconomic variables have a similar structure and is U-shaped in age in South Africa as in developed countries. Well-being rises with income. Unemployment is detrimental to reported well-being, both at the individual- and household-level. Living standard indicators such as durable assets ownership seem to determine happiness levels as well as income. Relative income also matters to well-being, after controlling for community wealth.

Keywords: Happiness; Living Standard; South Africa; Poverty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D10 I31 J10 O10 O55 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 51 pages
Date: 2003
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Is the Structure of Happiness Equations the Same in Poor and Rich Countries? The Case of South Africa (2003)
Working Paper: Is the Structure of Happiness Equations the Same in Poor and Rich Countries? The Case of South Africa (2003)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wrk:warwec:675

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