The Objective Benefits of Subjective Well-Being

De Neve, Jan‐Emmanuel; Diener, Ed; Tay, Louis; Xuereb, Cody

The Objective Benefits of Subjective Well-Being

In Helliwell, J., Layard, R., & Sachs, J., eds. World Happiness Report 2013. New York: UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

35 Pages Posted: 7 Aug 2013

See all articles by Jan‐Emmanuel De Neve

Ed Diener

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Cody Xuereb

London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) - Centre for Economic Performance (CEP)

Date Written: August 6, 2013

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to survey the “hard” evidence on the effects of subjective well-being. In doing so, we complement the evidence on the determinants of well-being by showing that human well-being also affects outcomes of interest such as health, income, and social behavior. Generally, we observe a dynamic relationship between happiness and other important aspects of our lives, with influence running in both directions. We also discuss the moderating, mediating, and evolutionary dynamics of human well-being.

Keywords: happiness, subjective well-being, health, income, behavior

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

De Neve, Jan-Emmanuel and Diener, Ed and Tay, Louis and Xuereb, Cody, The Objective Benefits of Subjective Well-Being (August 6, 2013). In Helliwell, J., Layard, R., & Sachs, J., eds. World Happiness Report 2013. New York: UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2306651