WELL-BEING ACROSS AMERICA

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Oswald, Andrew J.; Wu, Stephen
• 署名单位: University of Warwick; University of Warwick; Hamilton College
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/REST_a_00133
• 发表日期: 2011-11
• 页码: 1118-1134
• 关键词: quality-of-life; u-shape; happiness; unemployment; satisfaction; HEALTH; ECONOMICS; distress; britain; STATES

摘要

This paper uses Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data to study life satisfaction and mental health across the geography of the United States. The analysis draws on a sample of 1.3 million citizens. Initially we control for people's personal characteristics (though not income). There is no correlation between states' regression-adjusted wellbeing and their GDP per capita. States like Louisiana, plus Washington, D. C., have high psychological well-being levels; California and West Virginia have low well-being. When we control for incomes, satisfaction with life is lower in richer states, just as compensating-differentials theory would predict. Nevertheless, some puzzles remain.