The thoughts that an individual has about the future contribute substantially to their life satisfaction in a positive or negative direction. This is a result found via five different methods, some of which control for personality and disposition and the potential endogeneity of thoughts and...

We consider the link between poverty and subjective well-being, and focus in particular on potential adaptation to poverty. We use panel data on almost 54,000 individuals living in Germany from 1985 to 2012 to show first that life satisfaction falls with both the incidence and intensity of...

This paper analyzes whether individuals have equal opportunity to achieve happiness (or well- being). We estimate sibling correlations and intergenerational correlations in self-reported life satisfaction, satisfaction with household income, job satisfaction, and satisfaction with health. We...

In this paper subjective well-being measured by survey questions on life and material satisfaction is investigated. Our context is Hungary, between 2000 and 2002. We identify some basic variables that have important effect on how individuals perceive well-being in competitive pressure situation,...

In this paper we focus on the connection between perception of the competitive pressure situation (unemployment, uncertainty, rising income and wealth inequalities, decreasing mobility) and demand for redistribution. Our context is Hungary, between 2000 and 2002. We identify some basic variables...

Recent happiness studies by economists, sociologist and psychologists have produced many important new approaches and attitudes to focus less on objective variables and more on subjective well-being (SWB). Studies investigating life satisfaction (as a proxy of SWB) have identified strong...

In this study we examine the association between subjective well-being and material welfare using the data of 3600 individuals from the TÁRKI Household Monitor for the year 2007. Most of the empirical papers on the effect of income on subjective well-being use either OLS regression or ordered...

Using four waves of the European Social Survey, we analyze the association of income inequality and redistribution with subjective well-being. Our results provide evidence that people in Europe are negatively affected by income inequality, while reduction of inequality has a positive effect on...

According to international comparisons the Hungarians are extremely dissatisfied with their lives. Meanwhile Austria, with many cultural and historical similarities to Hungary, is in the forefront of the satisfaction lists. We have identified some of the important causes of Hungarian...

In this paper we analyze whether people who spend money on experiences rather than material things are more satisfied. Previous psychological studies have several drawbacks, and therefore their results might be biased and unreliable. Trying to avoid these drawbacks in this research we use...