Veenhoven vs. Easterlin in Happiness Economics: Does Economic Growth Increase Happiness?

Year 2023, Volume: 10 Issue: 2, 691 - 720, 02.08.2023

Hatime Kamilçelebi

https://doi.org/10.26650/JEPR1170876

Abstract

Richard Easterlin was one of the pioneers of happiness economics studies and stated in his studies that a significant correlation exists between happiness and per capita income. He also explained that, despite the occurrence of an increase in per capita income in the countries he’d studied in his work, no increase had occurred in the stated happiness levels, with the average happiness level in rich countries not being higher than in poor countries. This result is called the Easterlin Paradox in the literature. Ruut Veenhoven was another pioneer of happiness economics and replied to the contradictory results in Easterlin’s study on economic growth and happiness. Veenhoven later criticized the empirical results of Easterlin’s research by using the same data that Easterlin had used and comparing with the results from other studies. Veenhoven (1989) stated an increase in per capita income to increase that country’s happiness levels. As a response to Veenhoven, Easterlin maintained the view that no long-term correlation exists between economic growth and happiness in his scientific studies. However, Veenhoven stated that his studies on the subject so far and the results tested with data from many countries had revealed the opposite. According to Veenhoven, the Easterlin Paradox is an illusion rather than a rule. These discussions from both happiness economics pioneers form the cornerstones of the happiness economics literature. The aim of the study is to examine in detail the works and research of Easterlinand Veenhoven that occurred in response to one another while simultaneously explaining the relationship between economic growth and increase in happiness in countries using the results from their works. When comparing the findings obtained from the data used by both scientists, happiness has been concluded to increase more in poor and developing countries as per capita income increases than in developed countries, although some countries were seen to be exceptions.

Keywords

Happiness economics, economic growth, GDP, Easterlin Paradox, Easterlin Illusion

Project Number

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Mutluluk İktisadında Easterlin’e Karşı Veenhoven: İktisadi Büyüme Mutluluğu Artırır mı?

Abstract

Mutluluk iktisadı çalışmalarının öncülerinden biri olan Richard Easterlin çalışmalarında mutluluk ve kişi başına düşen milli gelir arasında anlamlıbir korelasyon olduğunu belirtmiştir. Diğer taraftan, ele aldığı ülkelerde kişi başına düşen milli gelir artışı olmasına rağmen belirtilen mutluluk seviyelerinde artış olmadığını ve zengin ülkelerde ortalama mutluluğun yoksul ülkelerden daha yüksek olmadığını ifade etmiştir. Easterlin’in bu sonucu literatürde “Easterlin Paradoksu” olarak adlandırılmaktadır. Mutluluk iktisadının öncülerinin bir diğeri olan Ruut Veenhoven ise Easterlin’in iktisadi büyüme ve mutlulukla ilgili çalışmasının çelişkili sonuçlarının ardından cevap niteliğinde çalışmalar yapmıştır. Veenhoven daha sonra Easterlin’in bu araştırmasında kullandığı aynı verilerle ve başka çalışma sonuçlarından da yararlanarak Easterlin’in araştırmasının ampirik sonuçlarını eleştirmiştir. Veenhoven, kişi başına düşen milli gelir artışının ülkelerin mutluluğunu artırdığını belirtmektedir. Easterlin, Veenhoven’a cevap niteliğinde yaptığı bilimsel çalışmalarında iktisadi büyüme ve mutluluk arasında uzun süreli bir ilişki olmadığı görüşünü devam ettirmektedir. Öte yandan Veenhoven konuyla ilgili şimdiye kadar yaptığı çalışmalarında çok sayıda ülkenin verileriyle test edilen sonuçların bunun aksini gösterdiğini belirtmektedir. Veenhoven’a göre “Easterlin Paradoksu” bir kuraldan ziyade bir illüzyondur. Her iki mutluluk iktisadı öncüsünün bu tartışmaları mutluluk iktisadı literatürünün temel taşlarıdır. Çalışmanın amacı Easterlin ve Veenhoven’ın birbirine cevap niteliğindeki bu araştırmalarını ve çalışmalarını detaylarıyla incelemek ve aynı zamanda iktisadi büyüme ve ülkelerdeki mutluluk artışı arasında ilişkiyi bu çalışmaların sonuçlarıyla açıklamaktır. Her iki bilim insanının kullandığı verilerden elde ettikleri bulgular karşılaştırıldığında, istisna ülkeler olmakla birlikte, kişi başına düşen milli gelir arttıkça yoksul vegelişmekte olan ülkelerde mutluluğun daha çok, gelişmiş ülkelerde ise daha az arttığı sonucuna varılmıştır.

Keywords

Mutluluk iktisadı, İktisadi büyüme, GSYİH, Easterlin paradoksu, Easterlin illüzyonu

Supporting Institution

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Project Number

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Thanks

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