National Happiness and Genetic Distance: A Cautious Exploration

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Proto, Eugenio; Oswald, Andrew J.
• 署名单位: University of Warwick; University of Warwick; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC); IZA Institute Labor Economics
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1111/ecoj.12383
• 发表日期: 2017
• 页码: 2127-2152
• 关键词: serotonin transporter gene; well-being evidence; polymorphism 5-httlpr; LIFE; association; DEPRESSION; heritability; personality; attention; HEALTH

摘要

This article studies a famous unsolved puzzle in quantitative social science. Why do some nations report such high levels of mental well-being? Denmark, for instance, regularly tops the league table of rich countries' happiness; Britain and the US enter further down; some nations do unexpectedly poorly. The explanation for the long-observed ranking - one that holds after adjustment for GDP and other socioeconomic variables - is currently unknown. Using data on 131 countries, the article cautiously explores a new approach. It documents three forms of evidence consistent with the hypothesis that some nations may have a genetic advantage in well-being.