Life satisfaction and sexual minorities: evidence from Australia and the United Kingdom

Powdthavee, Nattavudh and Wooden, Mark (2015) Life satisfaction and sexual minorities: evidence from Australia and the United Kingdom. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 116. pp. 107-126. ISSN 0167-2681

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Abstract

Very little is known about how the differential treatment of sexual minorities could influence subjective reports of overall well-being. This paper seeks to fill this gap. Data from two large surveys that provide nationally representative samples for two different countries – Australia and the UK – are used to estimate a simultaneous equations model of life satisfaction. The model allows for self-reported sexual identity to influence a measure of life satisfaction both directly and indirectly through seven different channels: (i) income; (ii) employment; (iii) health (iv) marriage and de facto relationships; (v) children; (vi) friendship networks; and (vii) education. Lesbian, gay and bisexual persons are found to be significantly less satisfied with their lives than otherwise comparable heterosexual persons. In both countries this is the result of a combination of direct and indirect effects.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01672...
Additional Information:	© 2015 Elsevier B.V.
Divisions:	Centre for Economic Performance
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Date Deposited:	01 Jul 2015 10:35
Last Modified:	20 Nov 2024 23:18
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/62595

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