Are We Architects of Our Own Happiness? the Importance of Family Background for Well-Being

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Autoren

  • Daniel D. Schnitzlein
  • Christoph Wunder

Organisationseinheiten

Externe Organisationen

  • Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung e.V. (DIW Berlin)
  • Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Forschungs-netzwerk anzeigen

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)125-149
Seitenumfang25
FachzeitschriftB.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy
Jahrgang16
Ausgabenummer1
Frühes Online-Datum30 Sept. 2015
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 1 Jan. 2016

Abstract

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 find high sibling correlations for all measures of well-being. The results suggest that family background explains, on average, between 30% and 60% of the inequality in permanent well-being. The influence is smaller when the siblings' psychological and geographical distance from their parental home is larger. Results from intergenerational correlations suggest that parental characteristics are considerably less important than family and community factors.

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Zitieren

Are We Architects of Our Own Happiness? the Importance of Family Background for Well-Being. / Schnitzlein, Daniel D.; Wunder, Christoph.
in: B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy, Jahrgang 16, Nr. 1, 01.01.2016, S. 125-149.

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Schnitzlein DD, Wunder C. Are We Architects of Our Own Happiness? the Importance of Family Background for Well-Being. B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy. 2016 Jan 1;16(1):125-149. Epub 2015 Sep 30. doi: 10.1515/bejeap-2015-0037
Schnitzlein, Daniel D. ; Wunder, Christoph. / Are We Architects of Our Own Happiness? the Importance of Family Background for Well-Being. in: B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy. 2016 ; Jahrgang 16, Nr. 1. S. 125-149.
Download
@article{e4e755f0d136405f990ef6b1d3c35a67,
title = "Are We Architects of Our Own Happiness? the Importance of Family Background for Well-Being",
abstract = "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 find high sibling correlations for all measures of well-being. The results suggest that family background explains, on average, between 30% and 60% of the inequality in permanent well-being. The influence is smaller when the siblings' psychological and geographical distance from their parental home is larger. Results from intergenerational correlations suggest that parental characteristics are considerably less important than family and community factors.",
keywords = "family background, intergenerational mobility, subjective well-being",
author = "Schnitzlein, {Daniel D.} and Christoph Wunder",
year = "2016",
month = jan,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1515/bejeap-2015-0037",
language = "English",
volume = "16",
pages = "125--149",
journal = "B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy",
issn = "1935-1682",
publisher = "Walter de Gruyter GmbH",
number = "1",

}

Download

TY - JOUR

T1 - Are We Architects of Our Own Happiness? the Importance of Family Background for Well-Being

AU - Schnitzlein, Daniel D.

AU - Wunder, Christoph

PY - 2016/1/1

Y1 - 2016/1/1

N2 - 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 find high sibling correlations for all measures of well-being. The results suggest that family background explains, on average, between 30% and 60% of the inequality in permanent well-being. The influence is smaller when the siblings' psychological and geographical distance from their parental home is larger. Results from intergenerational correlations suggest that parental characteristics are considerably less important than family and community factors.

AB - 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 find high sibling correlations for all measures of well-being. The results suggest that family background explains, on average, between 30% and 60% of the inequality in permanent well-being. The influence is smaller when the siblings' psychological and geographical distance from their parental home is larger. Results from intergenerational correlations suggest that parental characteristics are considerably less important than family and community factors.

KW - family background

KW - intergenerational mobility

KW - subjective well-being

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84954424130&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1515/bejeap-2015-0037

DO - 10.1515/bejeap-2015-0037

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84954424130

VL - 16

SP - 125

EP - 149

JO - B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy

JF - B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy

SN - 1935-1682

IS - 1

ER -