scholarly journals The Inefficiency of the Neoclassical Paradigm in the Promotion of Subjective Well-Being and Socioeconomic, and Environmental Sustainability: An Empirical Test for the Spanish Case

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 7102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matías Membiela-Pollán ◽  
María Alló-Pazos ◽  
Carlos Pateiro-Rodríguez ◽  
Félix Blázquez-Lozano
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Empirical Test ◽  
Well Being ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Social Variables ◽  
Social Survey ◽  
Happiness Economics ◽  
Relevant Role

The recent literature developed in the field of happiness economics highlights the overvaluation of income and material prosperity as determinants of happiness, and calls into question many of the assumptions of traditional economic theory linked to “rationality” and the “non-satiety” of the consumer. This article aimed to study which factors explain individual subjective well-being, paying special attention to the role of income and the incidence of social variables and focusing on the case of Spain. As a novelty, this research introduces variables such as trust or the perception of justice, among others. Based on the analysis of the European Social Survey and through the estimation of an ordered logit, we find that, in line with the theory of happiness economics, the material aspects do not play a relevant role as explanatory of subjective well-being, unlike social aspects, such as sociability and trust in people (social capital). In addition, our results indicate that in the case of Spain, the most materialistic people are associated with a lower level of happiness. Thus, it seems that the excess of concern for material and economic issues in the pursuit of happiness undermines socioeconomic and environmental sustainability by causing the “wealth destruction effect”.

The Immigrant-Native Gap in Subjective Well-Being in Western European Countries: Assessing the Role of Social Capital

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 458-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mesay A. Tegegne ◽  
Jennifer L. Glanville
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Well Being ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Immigrant Integration ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Social Survey ◽  
Using Data

Immigrants in Western Europe typically exhibit lower levels of subjective well-being than their native-born counterparts. We argue that because of disruptions in social networks and linguistic and cultural barriers to immigrant integration, social capital is a likely source of immigrant-native inequality in well-being. Using data from the first five waves of the European Social Survey, we find that social capital, measured by several indicators of informal social connections and generalized trust, explains more than half of the non-Western immigrant-native gap in subjective well-being that remains after adjusting for the standard predictors of well-being. Social capital also significantly reduces the smaller Western immigrant-native gap. In addition, we examine potential differential returns to social capital and find that immigrants and natives benefit equally from social capital.

scholarly journals Patterns of Trust and Subjective Well-Being Across Europe: New Insights from Repeated Cross-Sectional Analyses Based on the European Social Survey 2002–2016

2019 ◽  
Vol 148 (2) ◽  
pp. 417-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Glatz ◽  
Anja Eder
Keyword(s):  
Social Trust ◽  
Well Being ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Institutional Trust ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Aggregate Level ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Social Survey ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Positive Effect

Abstract This paper offers elaborate analyses regarding the effects of social- as well as institutional trust as parts of social capital on subjective well-being (SWB) by using data from the European Social Survey, including 36 countries and eight time-points between 2002 and 2016. We analyze (1) The development of trust and SWB on the aggregate level; (2) The effect of trust on SWB on the individual cross-sectional level; and (3) The longitudinal and cross-sectional effect of trust on SWB on the aggregate level while considering control variables based on previous research. We observe a weak positive trend regarding social trust as well as SWB over time, but no significant change in institutional trust. However, trends are far from homogeneous across countries. In accordance to previous studies, we find a positive effect of social trust on SWB. This effect holds on the individual cross-sectional level for every participating country, but also on the longitudinal level. In view of institutional trust, we see a positive effect on SWB on the individual and aggregate cross-sectional level, but not over time. Thus, this study particularly sheds new light on this relation, indicating that it´s cross-sectional relation is due to confounding variables. Moreover, we observe no relation between economic growth and SWB after controlling for unemployment, but a positive effect of decreasing unemployment and inflation on SWB. Our data suggests that establishing an environment with high social trust across Europe would be rewarded with a happy society.

Migration Background and Subjective Well-Being A Multilevel Analysis Based on the European Social Survey

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 645-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Hadjar ◽  
Susanne Backes
Keyword(s):  
First Generation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Migration Background ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Integration Policy ◽  
Social Survey ◽  
Multilevel Perspective ◽  
Migrant Integration ◽  
First Generation Migrants

Abstract Contributing to the debate on the integration of migrants in Europe, this study focuses on Subjective Well-Being (SWB) of people with migration backgrounds compared to people without a migration background – specifying SWB in terms of successful integration. The analyses employ a multilevel perspective (data base: European Social Survey). On the macro level, gross domestic product (GDP), welfare regime, xenophobia and the migrant integration policy index (MIPEX) are considered; on the micro level, social origin, education, unemployment, income deprivation, relationship status, health status and controls. Findings indicate a disadvantage in SWB of first-generation migrants that goes beyond deficits regarding well-studied SWB determinants. The SWB gap between migrants and non-migrants is larger in countries with a high GDP and smaller in countries with a high MIPEX score.

scholarly journals Nowhere Better Than Here?The Subjective Well-Being of German Emigrants and Remigrants

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Erlinghagen
Keyword(s):  
Household Income ◽  
Group Structure ◽  
Well Being ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Social Survey ◽  
Demographic Group ◽  
Individual Evaluation ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Better Than

The paper investigates in the question if and how the subjective well-being (SWB) of German emigrants, German non-migrants, and German remigrants differ. Based on regression analyses of data from the European Social Survey (ESS) the analyses focus on life satisfaction and happiness as main indicators of SWB. It turns out that German emigrants show increased SWB compared to German non-migrants or remigrants. However, these findings cannot be explained by differences in the socio-economic or socio-demographic group structure. In fact, the increased SWB of emigrants is much more an effect of psychosocial differences and differences in the individual evaluation of household income.

Het littekeneffect: de blijvende invloed van langdurige werkloosheid op welzijn

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter H. van der Meer ◽  
Nick Mulder
Keyword(s):  
Social Norms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Multilevel Analyses ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Social Survey ◽  
Loss Of Self ◽  
The Unemployed

The scarring effect: the lasting impact of long-term unemployment on wellbeing In this article we answer the question whether the scarring effect of unemployment lasts into retirement. This is an interesting question because the answer provides insights into the explanation of this scarring effect. If pensioners are scarred by unemployment than this suggests that the scar is caused by a loss of self-esteem. If pensioners don't have the scar than this suggests that the scar among employed is explained by either a scaring effect or by not abiding social norms. Our multilevel analyses of data for 25 countries that participated in the European Social Survey showed that pensioners do have such a scar. Pensioners who have been unemployed for at least three months have a lower level of subjective well-being than pensioners who were never unemployed. This shows that unemployment coincides with a loss of self-esteem. It is an additional argument why governments should give a higher level of priority in combatting unemployment to avoid social losses, not only for the unemployed but for the pensioners as well.

scholarly journals Social Exclusion and Subjective Well-being Among Older Adults in Europe: Findings From the European Social Survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunwoo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
General Health ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Well Being ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Social Survey ◽  
The Social

Abstract Objectives The current study aims to examine how social exclusion is related to subjective well-being in older adults across different European regions. Methods European population-based cross-sectional study design was employed using data sampled from the eighth round of the European Social Survey (ESS). Multiple items for social exclusion were used in this round, including household income, civic participation, frequent meetings with friends and relatives, basic health services, and neighborhood cohesion. Life satisfaction, happiness, and self-rated general health were also assessed. An ANOVA was performed to examine the regional differences related to social exclusion and subjective well-being, while a regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between the social exclusion and subjective well-being. Results There were significant regional differences in the social exclusion and subjective well-being of older Europeans. In addition, older adults in the Nordic nations are more likely to indicate higher levels of subjective well-being and lower levels of social exclusion, while older adults from Central and Eastern European nations tend to report lower levels of subjective well-being and higher levels of social exclusion. Material resources and basic services are highlighted as the most important domains pertaining to life satisfaction, happiness, and general health. Discussion The study findings reinforce the inequality in subjective well-being linked to social exclusion across different societies. Both global and country-specific exclusion models in later life should be implemented in order to enhance comparable research and provide insight into EU and national guidelines for interventions to diminish social exclusion.

scholarly journals Does Increasing Immigration Affect Ethnic Minority Groups?

2021 ◽  
Vol 697 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-65
Author(s):  
Danying Li ◽  
Miguel R. Ramos ◽  
Matthew R. Bennett ◽  
Douglas S. Massey ◽  
Miles Hewstone
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Well Being ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Cognitive Mechanisms ◽  
Generalized Trust ◽  
Social Survey ◽  
White Majority

Immigration is increasing around the world. Academic work suggests that increasing immigration reduces social cohesion and subjective well-being, but these studies mainly focused on white majority populations. Using the 2002 to 2014 European Social Survey, we analyze data from 5,149 ethnic minority respondents living in twenty-four European countries. We examine the association between immigration and respondents’ well-being, mediated by two critical cognitive mechanisms: perceived discrimination and generalized trust. We find that in the short term, immigration is associated with greater perceived discrimination, which in turn is associated with lower trust and well-being. Over the longer term, though, immigration is associated with lower perceived discrimination from ethnic minorities, yielding greater generalized trust and perceived well-being.

scholarly journals Balancing flexibility and security in Europe? The impact of unemployment on young peoples’ subjective well-being

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Russell ◽  
Janine Leschke ◽  
Mark Smith
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Job Insecurity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Social Survey ◽  
Job Instability ◽  
Unemployment Spells ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

We examine the relationship between ‘flexicurity’ systems, unemployment and well-being outcomes for young people in Europe. A key tenet of the flexicurity approach is that greater flexibility of labour supply supports transitions into employment, trading longer-term employment stability for short-term job instability. However, there is a risk that young people experience greater job insecurity, both objective and subjective, with less stable contracts and more frequent unemployment spells. Our research draws on data from the European Social Survey and uses multi-level models to explore whether and how flexibility-security arrangements moderate the effect of past and present unemployment on the well-being of young people. We distinguish between flexibility-security institutions that foster improved job prospects and those that provide financial security.

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