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Studies

Stevenson & Wolfers (2008): study ZZ World samples 1981

Publication

Author(s):
Stevenson, B.; Wolfers, J.
Title:
Economic Growth and Subjective Well-being: Reassessing the Easterlin Paradox.
Source:
Brooking Papers on Economic Activity, 2008, Washington DC, USA

Investigation

Public
18+ aged general public, 61 nations, 1981-2004
Survey name
INT-WVS: combined waves
Sample
Probability multi-stage cluster sample
Respondents
N = 250000
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

All things considered, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with your life-as-whole these days.....?
1  least satisfied
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10  most satisfied
Classification:
O-SLW-c-sq-n-10-c
Page in publication:
Table 1
Full text:
Self report on single question:

Taking all things together, would you say you are.....?
4  very happy
3  quite happy
2  not very happy
1  not at all happy.
Classification:
O-HL-u-sq-v-4-a
Page in publication:
table 1
Full text:
Self report on 10 questions:

During the past few weeks, did you ever feel ....?  (yes/no)
A   Particularly excited or interested in something?
B   So restless that you couldn't sit long in a chair?
C   Proud because someone complimented you on something  
     you had done?
D   Very lonely or remote from other people?
E   Pleased about having accomplished something?
F   Bored?
G   On top of the world?
H   Depressed or very unhappy?
I    That things were going your way?
J    Upset because someone criticized you?

Answer options and scoring:
yes = 1
no  = 0
Summation:
-Positive Affect Score (PAS): A+C+E+G+I
-Negative Affect Score (NAS): B+D+F+H+J
-Affect Balance Score (ABS): PAS minus NAS
Possible range: -5 to +5

Name: Bradburn's 'Affect Balance Scale' (standard version)
Classification:
A-BB-cm-mq-v-2-a
Page in publication:
Table 6
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range -5 - 5 On range 0-10
Mean:
1.38 -
SD:
- -
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

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding GDP per capita: Levels Purchasing power (`real' GDP pc) GDP per capita: Long difference Change GDP in nation: economic growth/decline Change in real GDP Change GDP in nation: economic growth/decline