Frey Economics of Happiness

1. Auflage 2018
ISBN: 978-3-319-75807-7
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 79 Seiten, eBook

Reihe: SpringerBriefs in Economics

This book focuses on what makes people happy. The author explains methods for measuring subjective life satisfaction and well-being by discussing economic and sociodemographic factors, as well as the psychological, cultural and political dimensions of personal happiness. Does higher income increase happiness? Are people in rich countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Scandinavian countries, happier than those living elsewhere? Does losing one’s job make one unhappy? What is the role of genetic endowments inherited from our parents? How important are physical and emotional health to subjective life satisfaction? Do older people tend to be happier, or younger people? Are close social relationships necessary for happiness? Do political conditions, such as respect for human rights, democracy and autonomy, play a part? How can governments contribute to the population’s happiness? This book answers these questions on the basis of extensiveinterdisciplinary research reflecting the current state of knowledge. The book will appeal to anyone interested in learning more about the various dimensions of personal well-being beyond the happiness-prosperity connection, as well as to policymakers looking for guidance on how to improve happiness in societies.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Frey, Bruno S.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Acknowledgements;6
2;Contents;7
3;1 Happiness as a Goal of Human Beings;11
3.1;Concepts of Happiness;11
3.2;Happiness and Material Welfare;12
3.3;Literature;14
4;2 Happiness Can Be Measured;15
4.1;Various Kinds of Happiness;15
4.2;Measurement Methods;16
4.2.1;Surveys of Subjective Life Satisfaction;17
4.2.2;U-Index;19
4.2.3;Experience Sampling Method;19
4.2.4;Day Reconstruction Method;19
4.2.5;Brain Activity;20
4.3;Literature;21
5;3 What Makes People Happy?;22
5.1;Determinants of Happiness;22
5.2;Genetic Endowment;23
5.3;Economic Factors;23
5.3.1;Income;23
5.3.2;Work;24
5.3.3;Distribution of Income;25
5.3.4;Economic Development;25
5.4;Socio-Demographic Influences;26
5.4.1;Age;26
5.4.2;Family Status;26
5.4.3;Children;26
5.4.4;Social Relationships;27
5.4.5;Health;27
5.4.6;Education;27
5.4.7;Culture and Religion;27
5.5;Political Conditions;28
5.5.1;Democracy and Well-Being;28
5.5.2;Federalism;29
5.6;Literature;29
6;4 Consequences of Happiness;30
6.1;The Importance of Several Joint Influences;30
6.2;The Effects of Happiness;30
6.3;Causality;32
6.4;Literature;32
7;5 Psychological Influences on Happiness;33
7.1;Happiness Is Partly Self-constructed;33
7.2;Adaptation;33
7.3;Comparison with Other People and Situations;34
7.4;Cognitive Biases;34
7.5;Restricted Prognostic Abilities;34
7.6;Literature;35
8;6 Happiness Maximization by the Government;36
8.1;Should Politicians Maximize Happiness?;36
8.2;Biased Answers to Happiness Surveys;37
8.3;Manipulated Happiness Index;37
8.4;Literature;38
9;7 What Happiness Policy Is Appropriate?;39
9.1;Enabling Happiness;39
9.2;Happiness as Ultimate Goal?;39
9.3;Institutions Leading to Happiness;40
9.4;Happiness in the Current Politico-Economic Process;42
9.4.1;Job Market and Economic Growth;42
9.4.2;Income Inequality;43
9.4.3;Independence and Self-employment;44
9.4.4;Voluntary Work and Donations;44
9.4.5;Family and Social Relationships;44
9.4.6;Education;44
9.4.7;Liveable Cities;45
9.5;Literature;45
10;8 What About a Happiness Pill?;46
10.1;Happiness Pills Exist;46
10.2;A Thought Experiment;46
10.3;Positive Effects;47
10.4;Negative Effects;47
10.5;Substitutes and Complements;48
10.6;Procedural Benefits;48
10.7;The Paradox of Happiness;49
10.8;Selfish Governments;49
10.9;What Can Be Said?;50
10.10;Literature;51
11;9 Happiness and Consumption;52
11.1;Welfare Judgments;52
11.2;Limited Self-control and Individual Well-Being;52
11.3;Misprediction of Utility;53
11.4;Literature;54
12;10 Happiness and Television Viewing;55
12.1;An Important Consumption Activity;55
12.2;Effects of Television Watching on Happiness;56
12.3;Effects Differ Between Groups;57
12.4;Literature;58
13;11 Happiness and Management;59
13.1;Effects of Happiness on Business Activities;59
13.2;Instrumental Use of Happiness;60
13.3;Various Forms of Happiness;60
13.4;Offering Possibilities for Happiness;61
13.5;Literature;62
14;12 Happiness and Religion;63
14.1;Models of Religious Activity;63
14.2;Types of Religiosity;63
14.3;Internal Religiosity: Faith;64
14.4;External Religiosity: Attending Church Service;64
14.5;Denomination;65
14.6;Effect Size;65
14.7;Literature;66
15;13 Happiness and War;67
15.1;Fundamentals;67
15.2;The Well-Being Lost by the Dead;68
15.3;Disregarding the Well-Being of the Dead by Definition;69
15.4;The Case of Terrorism;70
15.5;Military Conflict May Raise Happiness;71
15.6;Psychological Costs of Military Combat;72
15.7;Concluding Remarks;73
15.8;Literature;74
16;14 Happiness in the Digital World;75
16.1;Internet Use;75
16.2;Literature;76
17;15 Beyond Material Aspects;77
17.1;Expected and Unexpected Insights;77
17.2;Literature;79

Über Autor(innen)

Bruno S. Frey is Permanent Visiting Professor at the University of Basel and Research Director at CREMA – Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts, Zurich. Before he was Professor at the Universities of Constance, Zurich, Chicago, Warwick and Friedrichshafen; he was awarded five Honorary Doctorates in five countries. Frey published 21 books and more than 600 articles in scholarly journals.