Using models from the happiness and the behavioural economics literature, we develop an analytical framework to investigate the relationship between housing wealth and residential satisfaction. Two hypotheses, i.e., social comparison and adaptation, are tested by using household panel survey...

This paper investigates a new approach to understanding personal and functional income distribution. I propose that hierarchical power - the command of subordinates in a hierarchy - is what distinguishes the rich from the poor and capitalists from workers. Specifically, I hypothesize that...

What makes the rich different? Are they more productive, as mainstream economists claim? I offer another explanation. What makes the rich different, I propose, is hierarchical power. The rich command hierarchies. The poor do not. It is this greater control over subordinates, I hypothesize, that...

In this paper it is argued that subjective well-being of the individual depends on two types of variables. The first type consists of characteristics of the individual himself, such as age, health, income, etc. The second type of variables consists of the characteristics of the individuals...

Das individuelle Nettovermögen in Deutschland betrug zum Jahresbeginn 2007 im Durchschnitt rund 88 000 Euro und ist damit gegenüber 2002 um rund zehn Prozent gestiegen. Maßgeblich für diese Entwicklung war die Zunahme des Geldvermögens sowie der Vermögen aus privaten Versicherungen. Im...

Anwartschaften an Alterssicherungssysteme - gesetzliche, tarifliche und private - stellen erhebliche Vermögensbestände dar. Analysen zur personellen Vermögensverteilung haben dies bislang aus Datengründen allerdings nicht vollständig berücksichtigt. Nach neuen Berechnungen auf Basis der...

Nicht erst seit der vergangenen Bundestagswahl gibt es in Deutschland eine öffentliche Diskussion, wie es hierzulande um die soziale Gerechtigkeit bestellt ist. In der Debatte wird hierbei oft auf die Entwicklung der Einkommensungleichheit rekurriert. Um die Gerechtigkeitsfrage sinnvoll zu...

In this paper, we revisit the association between happiness and inequality. We argue that the interaction between the perceived and the actual fairness of the income generation process affects this association. Building on a simple model of individual labor-market participation under...

In this paper it is argued that subjective well-being of the individual depends on two types of variables. The first type consists of characteristics of the individual himself, such as age, health, income, etc. The second type of variables consists of the characteristics of the individuals...

It is argued that the concept of well-being inequality cannot be properly defined without taking the referencing process into account. The reference effect depends on how frequently individuals compare with others and on the degree of social transparency in society. In this paper we employ the...