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The mystery of the U-shaped relationship between happiness and age

Author

Listed:
  • Paul Frijters

    (QUT)

  • Tony Beatton

    (QUT)

Abstract
In this paper we address the puzzle of the relation between age and happiness. Whilst the majority of psychologists have concluded there is not much of a relationship at all, the economic literature has unearthed a possible U-shape relationship. In this paper we replicate the U-shape for the German SocioEconomic Panel (GSOEP), and we investigate several possible explanations for it.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Frijters & Tony Beatton, 2008. "The mystery of the U-shaped relationship between happiness and age," NCER Working Paper Series 26, National Centre for Econometric Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:qut:auncer:2008-15
    as

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    File URL: http://www.ncer.edu.au/papers/documents/NCER_WpNo26Jul08v2.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Happiness methodology; unobservables; latent variable;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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