If not only GDP,what else? Using relational goods to predict the trends of subjective well-being |
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Authors: | Stefano Bartolini Ennio Bilancini |
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Institution: | (1) Dipartimento di Economia Politica, University of Siena, Siena, Italy;(2) Dipartimento di Economia Politica, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy;; |
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Abstract: | In the last decade, a lively interdisciplinary discussion has grown around the evidence that, in the long-run, people’s subjective
well-being is not significantly correlated with income growth. In other words, GDP growth does not predict the long run growth
of subjective well-being. In this paper, we argue that there exists a different predictor of subjective well-being that works
pretty well: sociability, i.e. the quality and quantity of social relationships (also referred to as relational goods). More
precisely, we illustrate the role of sociability as a predictor of well-being, presenting the available evidence at both the
within-country and the worldwide level. In particular, we discuss recent evidence from US cross-sectional data (General Social
Survey, 1975–2004), cross-country time series (World Value Survey 1980–2005), and German panel data (German Socio-Economic
Panel, 1996–2007). We conclude by indicating the most relevant open issues and suggesting future lines of research. |
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