Description
Book SynopsisOffers a link between happiness and economics - and between happiness and democracy. This book demonstrates how micro- and macro-economic conditions in the form of income, unemployment, and inflation affect happiness. It shows that the more developed the democratic institutions and the degree of local autonomy, the more satisfied people are.
Trade Review"Frey and Stutzer are highly successful in their effort to synthesize--from an economic perspective--happiness research from a variety of disciplines and to extend that research, using an economic orientation."--Choice "With commendable expertise [the authors] integrate explanations of human well-being from psychology, sociology and political science with the few studies of happiness that have been undertaken by economists... Frey and Stutzer support the unfashionable proposition that subjective well-being is indeed something that economists can and should study, and they marshal a strong case in favor of this view."--David Throsby, Times Literary Supplement "A major breakthrough in economic research."--R.E. Lane, Journal of Economics
Table of ContentsPreface vii PART I: Setting the Stage CHAPTER 1: Happiness 3 CHAPTER 2: Well-Being and Economics 19 CHAPTER 3: Personality and Socio-Demograohic Influences on happiness 49 PART II: Economic Effects on Happiness CHAPTER 4: Income 73 CHAPTER 5: Employment 95 CHAPTER 6: Inflation 111 PART III: Political Effects on Happiness CHAPTER 7: The Current Politico-Economic Process 121 CHAPTER 8: Constitution: Popular Referenda and Federalism 133 CHAPTER 9: Outcome and Process 153 PART IV: Conclusions CHAPTER 10: Happiness Inspires Economics 171 APPENDIX A 185 APPENDIX B 191 References 195 Data Sources 215 Index 217
