Apologies for cross-posting.
New Policy Brief by Orsolya Lelkes, European Centre for Social Welfare
Policy and Research Vienna
"Happiness Across the Life Cycle: Exploring Age-Specific Preferences"
Abstract:
Existing evidence suggests a U-shaped relationship between age and
happiness, when controlling for income and other personal
characteristics. On the other hand, there is no clear pattern without
the use of controls. Thus, it is not ageing as such, which results
declining happiness, but rather the circumstances which are associated
with ageing. Which of these circumstances could be averted? Are the
preferences of the elderly are similar to others? The paper aims to
explore these issues, using the European Social Survey. The results
imply that the varying level of life satisfaction during the life cycle
may be explained partly by changing preferences (by the decreasing
importance of work, the increasing importance of religion, and the
declining disutility of being single), and partly by changing
circumstances. While changing preferences seem to increase well-being,
changing circumstances seem to decrease it. Old days thus are happy
above all due to changing priorities in life.
More: http://www.euro.centre.org/detail.php?xml_id=1151
Please feel free to forward the Policy Brief to people who might be
interested.
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Best regards,
Annette Hexelschneider, Dipl.-Ing.
Head of Knowledge and Information Management Support Unit
European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research
Berggasse 17
A-1090 Vienna (Austria)
Tel: +43-1-319 45 05-23
Fax: +43-1-319 45 05-19
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