The authors consider the absolute income effect and several relative income effects on happiness. The latter include both a longitudinal comparison, which consists of both upward and downward comparisons, and a parallel comparison with individuals of similar traits. It is found that the...

This study uses the entry-level wage of Taiwanese female college graduates to ensure a clear causality between the wage and physical appearance. It is found that height raises the entry wage, and that there exists an optimal BMI. Graduates who are satisfied with their looks earn 3.4% more than...

This study proposes a model to estimate the demand for higher education. The present model is characterized by an ability-based distribution of high school graduates who choose between entering the labor market and beginning post-secondary schooling. In addition to estimating the demand for...

This study simulates different income growth and income distribution scenarios in Taiwan in 2001, and examines how social happiness and people's happiness at different income levels change. Without taking downward comparison into consideration, the simulation supports income redistribution in...

An integrated approach for estimating the stock of human capital in the United States is developed which eliminates well known problems associated with both the cost and income based methods currently in use. Historical information on the cost of the educational investment made in base entrants...

The magnitude of the reward of an afterlife promised in the case of Christians is significantly greater than that in relation to both Buddhism and Taiwanese folk religions. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether these differences in the promised rewards of an afterlife across...