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Studies

Easterlin (1974): study ZZ 1957

Publication

Author(s):
Easterlin, R.A.
Title:
Does Economic Growth Improve the Human Lot? Some Empirical Evidence.
Source:
David, P.A.;Melvin, W.R.;Eds.: "Nations and Households in Economic Growth", Academic Press, 1974, New York, USA, 89 - 125.

Investigation

Public
Adults, general public, 14 nations, 1957-1962
Sample
Selection from general population sample
Respondents
N = 18653
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
By native interviewer

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

Here is a picture of a ladder. Suppose we say that the top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the  bottom represents the worst possible life for you. Where on the ladder do you feel you personally stand at the present time?   
[  10  ]  best possible life
[    9  ]
[    8  ]
[    7  ]
[    6  ]
[    5  ]
[    4  ]
[    3  ]
[    2  ]
[    1  ]
[    0  ]  worst possible life
                          
                                                                                
Preceded by 1)  open questions about what the respondent imagines as the best possible life and the worst possible life. 2) ratings on the ladder of one's life five years ago and  where on the ladder one expects to stand five years from now.

Name: Cantril's self anchoring ladder rating of life (original)
Classification:
C-BW-c-sq-l-11-a
Author's label:
Rating of personal happiness (0 - 10)
Page in publication:
105
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 0 - 10 On range 0-10
Mean:
5.00 5.00
SD:
- -

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Economic development Purchasing power (`real' GDP pc)