Life Satisfaction in Italy: Evidence from the ISAE Consumer Survey

Self-reported life satisfaction (SRS) in Italy has started to decline well before the current crisis. This paper explores the relationship between SRS and quality of life in Italy, using the ISAE data-base on households. SRS was surveyed on 2000 individuals in May 2008, November 2008 and April 2009. Three main results can be drawn; first, SRS has not significantly changed during the last 6 months. Second, moving to a different socio-economic group has a greater impact on SRS than changing income within the same group. Third, measures of financial stress such as debt, willingness to work and earn more, and problems meeting basic household expenses, prove to explain SRS in addition to income.