Who Compares to Whom? The Anatomy of Income Comparisons in Europe

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Clark, Andrew E.; Senik, Claudia
• 署名单位: Paris School of Economics; Sorbonne Universite
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0297.2010.02359.x
• 发表日期: 2010
• 页码: 573-594
• 关键词: satisfaction; INEQUALITY; wages

摘要

This article provides unprecedented direct evidence from large-scale survey data on both the intensity (how much?) and direction (to whom?) of income comparisons. Income comparisons are considered to be at least somewhat important by three-quarters of Europeans. They are associated with both lower levels of subjective well-being and a greater demand for income redistribution. The rich compare less and are happier than average when they do, which latter is consistent with relative income theory. With respect to the direction of comparisons, colleagues are the most frequently-cited reference group. Those who compare to colleagues are happier than those who compare to other benchmarks.