Introduction to Modern Happiness Studies

“We hold these truths to be self-evident –that all men

are created equal; that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain inalienable rights: that among
these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
US Declaration of Independence, 1776
I. The beginning of MHS
II. Methodological controversies
III. The Easterlin paradox and consequences
I. The beginning of MHS
1. Easterlin 1974: “Does economic growth improve the human
lot? Some empirical evidence”
“Father” of M (empirical, quantitative) H (i+swb) S
Link between income and happiness?
II. Methodological controversies on wellbeing (1940s)
1. Economists: objective/external/income vs. What people
say/think/do…
Psychologists: subjective/internal/feelings, pleasures,
heritable traits vs. Objective conditions
II. Methodological controversies on wellbeing (1940s)
2. Econ: What people think/say/do is irrelevant (?), but
happiness shows
+ correlation with income, given same time and place
- correlation with unemployment & inflation
+ correlation with education & race
3. Psych: H self-reports concur with reports by friends,
relatives, acquaintances… (Econ: Refers to groups, not
individuals. We are all after the same goals: standards of
living, family, health…)
II. Methodological controversies on wellbeing (1940s)

But contrary to economists…

H does not (always) improve with income growth for the
same people
H of a cohort remains K throughout their lifetime, although
they say they were less happy in the past and think they will
be happier in the future.
III. The Easterlin paradox and consequences

1.NeoClassical dogma: Economic growth increases wellbeing.

Easterlin paradox: Although in a given country and moment,

subjective wellbeing varies directly with income, in time,
subjective wellbeing is not positively correlated with increases
in income.

Economic growth as political objective?

III. The Easterlin paradox and consequences
2. Crossing academic boundaries
(Welfare) economists into psychology: Frank, Oswald,
Scitovsky…
(Hedonic) psychologists into economics: Kahneman, Diener,
Tyler…
Sociologists/Political theorists: “social norm” mediating
between the objective/ economic and the subjective/
psychological (eg “The rich are happier than the poor.”)
Philosophers and ethicists?