Happiness and Economic Growth: Lessons from Developing Countries (Studies of Policy Reform) - Hardcover

Clark, Andrew

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198723652 ISBN 13: 9780198723653

Verlag: Oxford University Press(UK), 2015

Inhaltsangabe

This volume, arising from a PSE-CEPREMAP-DIMeco conference, includes contributions by the some of the best-known researchers in happiness economics and development economics, including Richard Easterlin, who gave his name to the 'Easterlin paradox' that GDP growth does not improve happiness over the long run. Many chapters underline the difficulty of increasing well-being in developing countries, including China, even in the presence of sustained income growth. This is notably due to the importance of income comparisons to others, adaptation (so that we get used to higher income), and the growing inequality of income. In particular, rank in the local income distribution is shown to be important, creating a beggar-thy-neighbour effect in happiness. Wealth comparisons in China are exacerbated by the gender imbalance, as the competition for brides creates a striking phenomenon of conspicuous consumption on the housing market. Policy has to be aware of these effects. This applies in particular to those who try to use self-reported subjective well-being in order to generate a 'social subjective poverty line', which is a key issue in developing countries. However, the news is not only bad from the point of view of developing countries. One piece of good news is that GDP growth often seems to go hand-in-hand with lower happiness inequality, and thereby reduces the risk of extreme unhappiness.

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Andrew Clark is a researcher based in France with extensive field experience. Their work delves into indigenous cultures, captivity narratives, and historical conflicts, particularly focusing on Kiowa life and encounters with U.S. forces. This research provides deep insights into complex historical transitions.

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Oxford University Press(UK)
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2015
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0198723652
• ISBN 13: 9780198723653
• Einband: Gebundene Ausgabe
• Anzahl der Seiten: 292
• Herausgeber: Senik Claudia
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: ORIGINAL KAISER; https://corp.oup.com/; ; Via Liguria 4; San Giuliano Milanese ; MI; 20098; Italien