Showing papers by "Richard A. Easterlin published in 2002"
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a unified theory of happiness and economic performance, based on the belief that happiness is a function of economic growth and the relative utility and income growth.
Abstract: Part 1 Early contributors: happiness and income - does economic growth improve the human lot? some empirical evidence, Richard A. Easterlin determinants of the happiness-income relationship - preferences or happiness?, Jeffrey Friedman and Adam McCabe, my own criticism of "The Joyless Economy", Tibor Scitovsky, economic growth and social welfare - the need for a complete study of happiness, Yew-Kwang Ng policy implications -the frame of reference as a public good, Robert H. Frank, human satisfactions and public policy, R. Layard the Leyden analysis of income norms - the measurement of welfare and well-being - the Leyden approach, Bernard M.S. van Praag and Paul Frijters, the relativity of utility - evidence from panel data, Huib can de Stadt, relative utility and income growth - an example, Arie Kapteyn. Part 2 Recent contributions - the determinants of happiness: happiness and economic performance, Andrew J. Oswald unhappiness and unemployment, Andrew E. Clark and Andrew J. Oswald preferences over inflation and unemployment - evidence from surveys of happiness, Rafael di Tella et al happiness, economy and institutions, Bruno S. Frey and Alois Stutzer income and happiness - towards a unified theory, Richard A. Easterlin rationality, joy and freedom, Amartya Sen.
218 citations
TL;DR: In the United States reported happiness five years ago is not comparable to present happiness as mentioned in this paper, and the improvement in happiness over the last five years obtained by differencing current reports of happiness today and happiness 5 years ago was not significantly related to the actual improvement over the same period.
Abstract: In the United States reported happiness five years ago is not comparable to present happiness. The improvement in happiness over the last five years obtained by differencing current reports of happiness today and happiness five years ago is not significantly related to the actual improvement in happiness over the same period. The currently reported five-year change in happiness is highly sensitive to current economic conditions, varying inversely with both the inflation and unemployment rates. Ordinarily, happiness five years ago as currently reported is less than present happiness, but the worse the current economic conditions are, the better the past looks relative to the present. If current economic conditions get bad enough, past happiness will be rated higher than present. Reports of happiness five years ago are not telling us about the utility respondents actually experienced at that time; they are telling us, instead, about respondents' current decision utility–which situation, today's or that five years ago, they would opt for if given the choice today.
20 citations
01 Jan 2002
TL;DR: This paper found that early in the life cycle material preferences or aspirations are fairly similar among income groups, and those with more income consequently have higher utility, and are happier, undercutting the favorable effect of income growth on utility.
Abstract: Early in the life cycle material preferences or aspirations are fairly similar among income groups, and those with more income consequently have higher utility, and are happier. Over the life cycle material aspirations rise in proportion to income, undercutting the favorable effect of income growth on utility. The cross sectional difference in happiness by level of income persists,but for any given status group happiness remains constant over the life cycle.
17 citations