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Journal of Economic Literature: Vol. 40 No. 2 (June 2002)

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What Can Economists Learn from Happiness Research?

Article Citation

Frey, Bruno S., and Alois Stutzer. 2002. "What Can Economists Learn from Happiness Research?." The Journal of Economic Literature, 40(2): 402-435.

DOI: 10.1257/002205102320161320

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a steadily increasing interest on the part of economists in happiness research. We argue that reported subjective well-being is a satisfactory empirical approximation to individual utility and that happiness research is able to contribute important insights for economics. We report how the economic variables income, unemployment and inflation affect happiness as well as how institutional factors, in particular the type of democracy and the extent of government decentralization, systematically influence how satisfied individuals are with their life. We discuss some of the consequences for economic policy and for economic theory.

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Authors

Frey, Bruno S. (University of Zurich, Institute for Empirical Research in Economics)
Stutzer, Alois (University of Zurich, Institute for Empirical Research in Economics)


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