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Does Income Inequality Affect The Well-Being of Individuals? Findings From Turkey

Year 2019, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 243 - 260, 29.12.2019
https://doi.org/10.38122/ased.598728

Abstract

Economic income level
is one of the most important factors determining the behavior of individuals
and society. In almost all social areas, the quality of life and satisfaction
rates are decreasing or increasing parallel to the economic level. The main purpose
of this study is to analyze the effects of income inequality on health and
social problems in Turkey. Multivariate adaptive regression splines
(MARSplines) algorithm was used as data analysis method. The dataset consists
of economic and non-economic variables. The common feature of all these
variables is that they can directly evaluate people's lives through social and
health issues and have the potential to change in proportion to their income
level. For this reason, the dependent variable of the regression model was
determined as the gini coefficient, which is a measure of income inequality,
and its relationship with the related dataset was examined. The results show
that all independent variables have an impressive potential of income
inequality at certain levels. In addition, using the MARSplines algorithm, a
relationship model that can explain approximately 99% of the data set was
created. These results, with respect to Turkey based data-set, reveals that
there is a strong correlation between individuals' welfare and income
inequality. Numerical values of the coefficients of the parameters taking place
in the model reveal the direction and size of the effect of the variables on
the relationship

References

  • Alesina, A., DiTella, R., MacCulloch, R. (2004). Happiness And Inequality: Are Europeans And Americans Different? Journal Of Public Economics, 88(9-10), p.2009-2042.
  • Barrington-Leigh, C. P., & Helliwell, J. F. (2008). Empathy And Emulation: Life Satisfaction And The Urban Geography Of Comparison Groups (No. W14593). National Bureau Of Economic Research.
  • Becchetti, L., & Rossetti, F. (2009). When Money Does Not Buy Happiness: The Case Of “Frustrated Achievers. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 38(1), p.159-167.
  • Berg, M., Veenhoven, R. (2010). Income Inequality And Happiness İn 119 Nations. In Search For An Optimum That Does Not Appear To Exist, Bent Greve (Ed.) ‘Social Policy and Happiness in Europe’, Edgar Elgar Cheltenham UK, chapter 11, pp 174-194 , 2010, ISBN 978-1-84844-574-1.
  • Blanchflower, D.G., Oswald, A.J. (2013). Does Inequality Reduces Happiness? Evidence From The States Of The Usa From The 1970’s To The 1990’s, Dartmouth College, Mimeo.
  • Clark, A. E., Frijters, P., & Shields, M. A. (2006). Income And Happiness: Evidence, Explanations And Economic İmplications, Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques, working paper 2006-24.
  • Crost, B. (2011). The Effect of Subsidized Employment on Happiness, SOEP paper No. 384, The German Socio-Economic Panel Study at the German Institute of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, p. 1-41.
  • Dixon, H.D. 2011). Economics and Happiness, The Economic Journal 107 (November), p.1812-1814.
  • Easterlin, R.(1974). Does Economic Growth Improve the Human Lot? Some Empirical Evidence. In Nations and Households in Economic Growth: Essays in Honour of Moses Abramowitz, ed. P. David and M. Reder. Academic Press.
  • Easterlin, R. A. (2001). Income And Happiness: Towards A Unified Theory, The Economi Journal, 111(473), p.465-484.
  • Electronic Statistics Textbook (1995), http://www.statsoft.com/Textbook/Multivariate-Adaptive-Regression-Splines
  • Frey, B. S., & Stutzer, A. (2002). The Economics Of Happiness. World Economics, 3(1), p.25-44.
  • Frey, B.S., Stutzer, A. (2010). Happiness and Economic Policy, Happiness: A New Approach In Economics”, CESifo DICE Report 2/2010.
  • Graham, C. (2005). The Economics of Happiness, World Economics, Vol 6. No. 3.p.41-55.
  • Graham, C. Felton, A. (2005). Does Inequality Matter To Individual Welfare: An Exploration Based on Happiness Surveys in Latin America, Centor on Social and Economic Dynamics Working Paper Series No. 38.
  • Gruber, J. Mullainathani S. (2002). Do Cigarette Taxes Make Smokers Happier? NBER Working Paper 8872.
  • Hoeller, P., Journard, I., Pisu, M., Bloch, D. (2012).M Less Income Inequalıty And More Growth - Are They Compatıble? Part 1. Mappıng Income Inequalıty Across The OECD”, Economıcs Department Workıng Paper No. 924
  • Kawachi, I., and Kennedy, B.P. (1997). The Relationship Of İncome İnequality To Mortality: Does The Choice Of İndicator Matter? “Social Science and Medicine, 45, p.1121-1127.
  • Latif, E. (2018). Does Income Inequality Impact Individual Happiness? Evidence from Canada, International Journal of Applied Economics, 15(1), March 2018,p. 42-79.
  • Morawetz, D. (1977). Income Distribution And Self-Related Happiness: Some Empirical Evidence,” Economic Journal, 87(347), p.511-522.
  • Oishi, S., Kesebir, S., Diener, E. (2011). Income Inequality and Happiness Psychological Science.
  • Preston, S. (1975). The Changing Realtion Between Mortality and Level of Economic Development, Population Studies, p. 231-248.
  • Rodgers, G. (1979). Income and Inequality as Determinant of Mortality: an an International Cross-section Analysis, Population Studies, 33(2), p. 343-351.
  • Sen, A. (1985). Commodities and Capabilites, Oxford University Press.
  • Tomes, N. (1986). “Income Distribution, Happiness And Satisfaction: A Direct Test Of The İnterdependent Preferences Model”. Journal Of Economic Psychology, 7(4), p.425-446.
  • Van P., B.M.S. (2007). “Perspectives From The Happiness Literature and The Role Of New Instruments for Policy Analysis”, (Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper; No. 07-049/3). Tinbergen Institute
  • Veenhoven, R. (1984). “Conditions Of Happiness.” D. Reidel, Dordrecht/Boston, 461.
  • Wilkinson, R. and K. Pickett (2010), “The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone”, Penguin Books Ltd.

Gelir Eşitsizliği Bireylerin Refahını Etkiler mi? Türkiye’den Bulgular

Year 2019, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 243 - 260, 29.12.2019
https://doi.org/10.38122/ased.598728

Abstract

Ekonomik gelir
seviyesi, bireylerin ve toplumun davranışlarını belirleyen en önemli
faktörlerden biridir. Neredeyse her tür sosyal alanda yaşam kalitesi ve
memnuniyet oranları ekonomik seviyeye paralel olarak azalmakta veya
artmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın temel amacı, Türkiye'de gelir eşitsizliğinin sağlık
ve sosyal problemler üzerindeki etkisini analiz etmektir. Veri analiz yöntemi
olarak, çok değişkenli adaptif regresyon katmanları (Multivariate adaptive
regression splines (MARSplines)) algoritması kullanılmıştır. Veri seti, ekonomik
ve ekonomik olmayan değişkenlerden oluşmaktadır. Bu sebeple, regresyon
modelinin bağımlı değişkeni, bir gelir eşitsizliği ölçü birimi olan, gini
katsayısı olarak belirlendi ve bu değişkenin ilgili TÜİK veri kümesi ile olan
ilişkisi incelendi. Sonuçlar, tüm bağımsız değişkenlerin belirli seviyelerde
gelir eşitsizliğini etkileyici bir potansiyele sahip olduğunu ortaya
koymaktadır. Ayrıca, MARSplines algoritması kullanılarak veri setinin yaklaşık %
99'unu açıklayabilen bir ilişki modeli oluşturulmuştur. Bu sonuçlar, Türkiye
özelinde, gelir eşitsizliği ve bireylerin refah düzeyleri arasında kuvvetli bir
ilişkinin olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. İlgi değişkenlerin model içinde sahip
oldukları katsayıların sayısal değerleri, değişkenin ilişki üzerindeki
etkisinin yönünü ve büyüklüğünü ortaya koymaktadır.

References

  • Alesina, A., DiTella, R., MacCulloch, R. (2004). Happiness And Inequality: Are Europeans And Americans Different? Journal Of Public Economics, 88(9-10), p.2009-2042.
  • Barrington-Leigh, C. P., & Helliwell, J. F. (2008). Empathy And Emulation: Life Satisfaction And The Urban Geography Of Comparison Groups (No. W14593). National Bureau Of Economic Research.
  • Becchetti, L., & Rossetti, F. (2009). When Money Does Not Buy Happiness: The Case Of “Frustrated Achievers. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 38(1), p.159-167.
  • Berg, M., Veenhoven, R. (2010). Income Inequality And Happiness İn 119 Nations. In Search For An Optimum That Does Not Appear To Exist, Bent Greve (Ed.) ‘Social Policy and Happiness in Europe’, Edgar Elgar Cheltenham UK, chapter 11, pp 174-194 , 2010, ISBN 978-1-84844-574-1.
  • Blanchflower, D.G., Oswald, A.J. (2013). Does Inequality Reduces Happiness? Evidence From The States Of The Usa From The 1970’s To The 1990’s, Dartmouth College, Mimeo.
  • Clark, A. E., Frijters, P., & Shields, M. A. (2006). Income And Happiness: Evidence, Explanations And Economic İmplications, Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques, working paper 2006-24.
  • Crost, B. (2011). The Effect of Subsidized Employment on Happiness, SOEP paper No. 384, The German Socio-Economic Panel Study at the German Institute of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, p. 1-41.
  • Dixon, H.D. 2011). Economics and Happiness, The Economic Journal 107 (November), p.1812-1814.
  • Easterlin, R.(1974). Does Economic Growth Improve the Human Lot? Some Empirical Evidence. In Nations and Households in Economic Growth: Essays in Honour of Moses Abramowitz, ed. P. David and M. Reder. Academic Press.
  • Easterlin, R. A. (2001). Income And Happiness: Towards A Unified Theory, The Economi Journal, 111(473), p.465-484.
  • Electronic Statistics Textbook (1995), http://www.statsoft.com/Textbook/Multivariate-Adaptive-Regression-Splines
  • Frey, B. S., & Stutzer, A. (2002). The Economics Of Happiness. World Economics, 3(1), p.25-44.
  • Frey, B.S., Stutzer, A. (2010). Happiness and Economic Policy, Happiness: A New Approach In Economics”, CESifo DICE Report 2/2010.
  • Graham, C. (2005). The Economics of Happiness, World Economics, Vol 6. No. 3.p.41-55.
  • Graham, C. Felton, A. (2005). Does Inequality Matter To Individual Welfare: An Exploration Based on Happiness Surveys in Latin America, Centor on Social and Economic Dynamics Working Paper Series No. 38.
  • Gruber, J. Mullainathani S. (2002). Do Cigarette Taxes Make Smokers Happier? NBER Working Paper 8872.
  • Hoeller, P., Journard, I., Pisu, M., Bloch, D. (2012).M Less Income Inequalıty And More Growth - Are They Compatıble? Part 1. Mappıng Income Inequalıty Across The OECD”, Economıcs Department Workıng Paper No. 924
  • Kawachi, I., and Kennedy, B.P. (1997). The Relationship Of İncome İnequality To Mortality: Does The Choice Of İndicator Matter? “Social Science and Medicine, 45, p.1121-1127.
  • Latif, E. (2018). Does Income Inequality Impact Individual Happiness? Evidence from Canada, International Journal of Applied Economics, 15(1), March 2018,p. 42-79.
  • Morawetz, D. (1977). Income Distribution And Self-Related Happiness: Some Empirical Evidence,” Economic Journal, 87(347), p.511-522.
  • Oishi, S., Kesebir, S., Diener, E. (2011). Income Inequality and Happiness Psychological Science.
  • Preston, S. (1975). The Changing Realtion Between Mortality and Level of Economic Development, Population Studies, p. 231-248.
  • Rodgers, G. (1979). Income and Inequality as Determinant of Mortality: an an International Cross-section Analysis, Population Studies, 33(2), p. 343-351.
  • Sen, A. (1985). Commodities and Capabilites, Oxford University Press.
  • Tomes, N. (1986). “Income Distribution, Happiness And Satisfaction: A Direct Test Of The İnterdependent Preferences Model”. Journal Of Economic Psychology, 7(4), p.425-446.
  • Van P., B.M.S. (2007). “Perspectives From The Happiness Literature and The Role Of New Instruments for Policy Analysis”, (Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper; No. 07-049/3). Tinbergen Institute
  • Veenhoven, R. (1984). “Conditions Of Happiness.” D. Reidel, Dordrecht/Boston, 461.
  • Wilkinson, R. and K. Pickett (2010), “The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone”, Penguin Books Ltd.
There are 28 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Süheyla Erikli 0000-0002-5817-6469

Ahmet Yücel 0000-0002-2364-9449

Publication Date December 29, 2019
Acceptance Date December 2, 2019
Published in Issue Year 2019Volume: 3 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Erikli, S., & Yücel, A. (2019). Gelir Eşitsizliği Bireylerin Refahını Etkiler mi? Türkiye’den Bulgular. Aksaray Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 3(2), 243-260. https://doi.org/10.38122/ased.598728
AMA Erikli S, Yücel A. Gelir Eşitsizliği Bireylerin Refahını Etkiler mi? Türkiye’den Bulgular. ASED. December 2019;3(2):243-260. doi:10.38122/ased.598728
Chicago Erikli, Süheyla, and Ahmet Yücel. “Gelir Eşitsizliği Bireylerin Refahını Etkiler Mi? Türkiye’den Bulgular”. Aksaray Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 3, no. 2 (December 2019): 243-60. https://doi.org/10.38122/ased.598728.
EndNote Erikli S, Yücel A (December 1, 2019) Gelir Eşitsizliği Bireylerin Refahını Etkiler mi? Türkiye’den Bulgular. Aksaray Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 3 2 243–260.
IEEE S. Erikli and A. Yücel, “Gelir Eşitsizliği Bireylerin Refahını Etkiler mi? Türkiye’den Bulgular”, ASED, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 243–260, 2019, doi: 10.38122/ased.598728.
ISNAD Erikli, Süheyla - Yücel, Ahmet. “Gelir Eşitsizliği Bireylerin Refahını Etkiler Mi? Türkiye’den Bulgular”. Aksaray Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 3/2 (December 2019), 243-260. https://doi.org/10.38122/ased.598728.
JAMA Erikli S, Yücel A. Gelir Eşitsizliği Bireylerin Refahını Etkiler mi? Türkiye’den Bulgular. ASED. 2019;3:243–260.
MLA Erikli, Süheyla and Ahmet Yücel. “Gelir Eşitsizliği Bireylerin Refahını Etkiler Mi? Türkiye’den Bulgular”. Aksaray Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, vol. 3, no. 2, 2019, pp. 243-60, doi:10.38122/ased.598728.
Vancouver Erikli S, Yücel A. Gelir Eşitsizliği Bireylerin Refahını Etkiler mi? Türkiye’den Bulgular. ASED. 2019;3(2):243-60.