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Correlational findings

Study Helliwell et al. (2018): study ZZ World samples 2005 /1

Public
Survey name
Gallup poll
Sample
Respondents
N = 900000
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face

Correlate

Authors's Label
Log GDP per capita
Our Classification
Distribution
M=12978  SD=13526,97
Related specification variables
Operationalization

Observed Relation with Happiness

Happiness Measure Statistics Elaboration / Remarks C-BW-c-sq-l-11-c b = +.52 p < .01 AVERAGE happiness by log GDP per capita in 157 nations in the period 2005-2012 (n=836).
- Without country fixed effects C-BW-c-sq-l-11-c b = +.65 p < .05 - With country fixed effects C-BW-c-sq-l-11-c b = +.94 p < .10 Countries with high delivery quality (greater than 0) (n=336) C-BW-c-sq-l-11-c b = +.31 ns Countries with low delivery quality (lower than 0) (n=500)

b controls for:
- democratic quality
- delivery quality
- year fixed effects

Similar patterns are obtained when b additionally controls for:
- Log GDP
- Healthy life expectancy
- Freedom to make life choices
- Generosity
- Social support
- Regional fixed effects

A similar result is also obtained when a regression is conducted for 2005-2012 averages at the country level.

In sum: GDP per capita has a significantly positive effect on life satisfaction. C-BW-c-sq-l-11-c b = +1.5 p < .01 AVERAGE happiness by AVERAGE democratic quality in 147 nations in the period 2005-2012 (n=734).

b controls for:
- Confidence in the national government (Gallup)
- Country fixed effects
- Year fixed effects

Similar results are obtained when b additionally controls for:
- Democratic quality
- Delivery quality
- Healthy life expectancy
- Freedom to make life choices
- Generosity
- Social support