Economics of Happiness (SpringerBriefs in Economics)
by Bruno S. Frey (Author)
About the Author
Bruno S. Frey is Permanent Visiting Professor at the University of Basel and Research Director at CREMA – Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts, Zurich. Before he was Professor at the Universities of Constance, Zurich, Chicago, Warwick and Friedrichshafen; he was awarded five Honorary Doctorates in five countries. Frey published 21 books and more than 600 articles in scholarly journals.
About this book
Introduction
This book focuses on what makes people happy. The author explains methods for measuring subjective life satisfaction and well-being by discussing economic and sociodemographic factors, as well as the psychological, cultural and political dimensions of personal happiness.
Does higher income increase happiness? Are people in rich countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Scandinavian countries, happier than those living elsewhere? Does losing one’s job make one unhappy? What is the role of genetic endowments inherited from our parents? How important are physical and emotional health to subjective life satisfaction? Do older people tend to be happier, or younger people? Are close social relationships necessary for happiness? Do political conditions, such as respect for human rights, democracy and autonomy, play a part? How can governments contribute to the population’s happiness? This book answers these questions on the basis of extensive interdisciplinary research reflecting the current state of knowledge.
The book will appeal to anyone interested in learning more about the various dimensions of personal well-being beyond the happiness-prosperity connection, as well as to policymakers looking for guidance on how to improve happiness in societies.
Table of contents
1 Happiness as a Goal of Human Beings
2 Happiness Can Be Measured
3 What Makes People Happy?
4 Consequences of Happiness
5 Psychological Influences on Happiness
6 Happiness Maximization by the Government
7 What Happiness Policy Is Appropriate?
8 What About a Happiness Pill?
9 Happiness and Consumption
10 Happiness and Television Viewing
11 Happiness and Management
12 Happiness and Religion
13 Happiness and War
14 Happiness in the Digital World
15 Beyond Material Aspects
Series: SpringerBriefs in Economics
Paperback: 75 pages
Publisher: Springer; 1st ed. 2018 edition (February 26, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 3319758063
ISBN-13: 978-3319758060
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