Beyond Happiness and Satisfaction: Toward Well-Being Indices Based on Stated Preference

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Benjamin, Daniel J.; Heffetz, Ori; Kimball, Miles S.; Szembrot, Nichole
• 署名单位: Cornell University; National Bureau of Economic Research; Cornell University; University of Michigan System; University of Michigan
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.104.9.2698
• 发表日期: 2014
• 页码: 2698-2735
• 关键词: policy

摘要

This paper proposes foundations and a methodology for survey-based tracking of well-being. First, we develop a theory in which utility depends on fundamental aspects of well-being, measurable with surveys. Second, drawing from psychologists, philosophers, and economists, we compile a comprehensive list of such aspects. Third, we demonstrate our proposed method for estimating the aspects' relative marginal utilities-a necessary input for constructing an individual-level well-being index-by asking similar to 4,600 US survey respondents to state their preference between pairs of aspect bundles. We estimate high relative marginal utilities for aspects related to family, health, security, values, freedom, happiness, and life satisfaction.