Happiness in transition: the case of Kyrgyzstan

Namazie, Ceema and Sanfey, Peter (1998) Happiness in transition: the case of Kyrgyzstan. DARP, 40. Suntory and Toyota international Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.

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Abstract

We analyse self-reported measures of satisfaction with life in a transition country, Kyrgyzstan, using 1993 household survey data. We test whether higher levels of satisfaction are associated with greater economic well-being. This hypothesis is strongly supported by the data. Unhappiness is prevalent among older people, the unemployed, and those who are divorced. There appears to be little correlation between happiness and either gender or education level. We find some evidence that income relativities, as measured by perceived position on the wealth ladder, also have a strong effect on life satisfaction.

Item Type:	Monograph (Discussion Paper)
Official URL:	http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk
Additional Information:	© 1998 Ceema Namazie and Peter Sanfey
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Happiness; Kyrgyzstan; transition; welfare
Library of Congress subject classification:	H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Journal of Economic Literature Classification System:	D - Microeconomics > D1 - Household Behavior and Family Economics > D10 - General O - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth > O5 - Economywide Country Studies > O53 - Asia including Middle East P - Economic Systems > P2 - Socialist Systems and Transitional Economies > P20 - General
Sets:	Collections > Economists Online Research centres and groups > Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines (STICERD)
Rights:	http://www.lse.ac.uk/library/rights/LSERO.htm
Identification Number:	40
URL:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/6591/

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