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Studies

Ram (2009): study ZZ 2006 /1

Publication

Author(s):
Ram, R.
Title:
Government Spending and Happiness of the Population: Additional Evidence from Large Cross-Country Samples.
Source:
Public Choice, 2009, Vol. 138, 483 - 490

Investigation

Public
18+ aged, general public, 87 nations, 2006
Survey name
INT-WorldValuesSurvey 4
Sample
Probability stratified sample
Respondents
N = 87000
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question

Various questions on satisfaction with life as-a-whole, rated on 10 or 11 step numeral scales. 10 step variants stretched to range 0-10
Classification:
O-SLW-*-sq-nt-11-a
Author's label:
Life satisfaction
Remarks:
Source: Veenhoven 2006 World Database of Happiness
Page in publication:
484
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 0 - 10 On range 0-10
Mean:
6.00 6.00
SD:
1.30 1.30
Full text:
Self report on two questions:

A Taking all together, how happy would you say you are?
    4  very happy
    3  quite happy
    2  not very happy
    1 not at all happy
B  All things considered, how satisfied are you with your
    life as-a-whole now?
    10  satisfied
    9
    8
    7
    6
    5
    4
    3
    2
    1  dissatisfied

Computation: (Ax2,5) +B -10

Name: Inglehart's combined score
Classification:
O-Sum-*-mq-nvt-21-c
Author's label:
Subjective Well-Being, SWB.
Remarks:
Source: Inglehart, 2008; Range is: -9 to +7,5.
Page in publication:
485
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range -10 - 10 On range 0-10
Mean:
1.60 5.46
SD:
1.70 1.31

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Real GDP per capita (in logs) Purchasing power (`real' GDP pc) Government consumption Size of government in nation
Government consumption in nation
Price level for investment (PI) Investment price level in nation (international) Openness Openness of economy in nation