Curiously, economists, whose discipline has much to do with human well-being, have shied away from factoring the study of happiness into their work. Happiness, they might say, is an ''unscientific'' concept. This is the first book to establish empirically the link between happiness and economics--and between happiness and democracy. Two respected economists, Bruno S. Frey and Alois Stutzer, integrate insights and findings from psychology, where attempts to measure quality of life are well-documented, as well as from sociology and political science. They demonstrate how micro- and macro-economic conditions in the form of income, unemployment, and inflation affect happiness. The research is centered on Switzerland, whose varying degrees of direct democracy from one canton to another, all within a single economy, allow for political effects to be isolated from economic effects.
Not surprisingly, the authors confirm that unemployment and inflation nurture unhappiness. Their most striking revelation, however, is that the more developed the democratic institutions and the degree of local autonomy, the more satisfied people are with their lives. While such factors as rising income increase personal happiness only minimally, institutions that facilitate more individual involvement in politics (such as referendums) have a substantial effect. For countries such as the United States, where disillusionment with politics seems to be on the rise, such findings are especially significant. By applying econometrics to a real-world issue of general concern and yielding surprising results, Happiness and Economics promises to spark healthy debate over a wide range of the social sciences.
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"This is a first-class book. It is a great read whether you are a social scientist or just someone who wants to understand what makes human beings tick. It will even make you happy. Frey and Stutzer's timing is perfect. They have written a marvelous book just as the field is about to take off. Their scholarship is excellent; they write beautifully; the topic is important. Terrific work."--Andrew J. Oswald, Warwick University
"This is a timely, excellent, insightful, and highly readable book by two authors who have an obvious command of their subject. It should become the standard reference text on the rapidly expanding academic study of happiness. It will appeal not only to a wide range of social scientists but also to a wide public audience outside academia. Bruno Frey and Alois Stutzer offer a comprehensive historical account that also reaches to the limits of our current understanding."--Robert MacCulloch, London School of Economics
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Book Description Condition: New. Offers 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. Num Pages: 232 pages, 1, black & white illustrations. BIC Classification: 1DFH; JH; KCA; KCB; KCC. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational; (U) Tertiary Education (US: College). Dimension: 229 x 152 x 12. Weight in Grams: 314. . 2001. Paperback. . . . . Seller Inventory # V9780691069982
Book Description Paperback / softback. Condition: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days. Offers 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. Seller Inventory # B9780691069982
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