Development, Freedom, and Rising Happiness: A Global Perspective (1981–2007)
University of Michigan · Harvard University · +1 more institution
Abstract
Until recently, it was widely held that happiness fluctuates around set points, so that neither individuals nor societies can lastingly increase their happiness. Even though recent research showed that some individuals move enduringly above or below their set points, this does not refute the idea that the happiness levels of entire societies remain fixed. Our article, however, challenges this idea: Data from representative national surveys carried out from 1981 to 2007 show that happiness rose in 45 of the 52 countries for which substantial time-series data were available. Regression analyses suggest that that the extent to which a society allows free choice has a major impact on happiness. Since 1981,…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 53.13
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 58
Authors
4Topics & keywords
- Happiness
- Democratization
- Perspective (graphical)
- Set (abstract data type)
- World Values Survey
- Psychology
- Economic freedom
- Social psychology
- Reduced inequalities