Perceived Happiness and Economic Development:Easterlin Paradox and the Latin American Case

Guillermo Andres Buitrago

Abstract


The aim of this study is to explore the link between subjective wellbeing and economic development. Our theoretical framework builds on the well mentioned Easterlin Paradox which suggests that there is no link between life satisfaction and economic growth. Using data from World Values Survey and World Bank we ran a number of econometric regressions. Our results showed that there is positive link between income and happiness across the globe, while for Latin America economic development is not a predictor of life satisfaction.


Keywords


income; happiness; life satisfaction; Latin America; China.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Papyrakis, E., & Mo, P. H. (2014). Fractionalization, polarization, and economic growth: identifying the transmission channels. Economic Inquiry, 52(3), 1204-1218.

Campos, N. F., Saleh, A., & Kuzeyev, V. (2011). Dynamic ethnic fractionalization and economic growth. The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, 20(2), 129-152.

Dincer, O. C., & Hotard, M. J. (2011). Ethnic and Religious Diversity and Income Inequality. Eastern Economic Journal, 37(3), 417-430.

Alesina, A., Michalopoulos, S., & Papaioannou, E. (2016). Ethnic inequality. Journal of Political Economy, 124(2), 428-488.

Alesina, A., Devleeschauwer, A., Easterly, W., Kurlat, S., & Wacziarg, R. (2003). Fractionalization. Journal of Economic growth, 8(2), 155-194.

Dorn, D., Fischer, J. A., Kirchgässner, G., & Sousa-Poza, A. (2008). Direct democracy and life satisfaction revisited: new evidence for Switzerland. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9(2), 227-255.

Owen, A. L., Videras, J., & Willemsen, C. (2008). Democracy, participation, and life satisfaction. Social science quarterly, 89(4), 987-1005.

Keane, L., Pacek, A., & Radcliff, B. (2012). Organized labor, democracy, and life satisfaction: A Cross-National Analysis. Labor Studies Journal, 37(3), 253-270.

Loayza, N., Fajnzylber, P., & Calderón, C. (2004). Economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean: stylized facts, explanations, and forecasts (No. 265). Banco Central de Chile.

Gruss, B. (2014). After the boom–commodity prices and economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean (No. 14-154). International Monetary Fund.

Veenhoven, R., & Vergunst, F. (2014). The Easterlin illusion: economic growth does go with greater happiness. International Journal of Happiness and Development, 1(4), 311-343.

Kenny, C. (1999). Does growth cause happiness, or does happiness cause growth?. Kyklos, 52(1), 3-25.

Clark, A. E., Flèche, S., & Senik, C. (2016). Economic growth evens out happiness: Evidence from six surveys. Review of Income and Wealth, 62(3), 405-419.

Easterlin, R. A., & Angelescu, L. (2009). Happiness and growth the world over: Time series evidence on the happiness-income paradox.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


 

Copyright© 2015 Journal of Research in Business, Economics and Management. All rights reserved.

ISSN 2395-2210

For any help/support contact us at editorial@scitecresearch.com, jrbem@scitecresearch.com.