The Validity of the Easterlin Paradox: Example of Selected Transitional Economies

Year 2023, Volume: 12 Issue: 4, 1372 - 1382, 11.10.2023

Ecem Turgut , Yeliz Sarıöz Gökten , Okyay Uçan

https://doi.org/10.33206/mjss.1238670

Abstract

There are many different views on the source of happiness. In the happiness economy, income is shown as the most important source of happiness. For this reason, the relationship between income and happiness has been a subject that has been discussed for years, and especially the Easterlin Paradox has come to the fore as a first. The Easterlin Paradox argues that happiness is positively correlated with income, both within and between countries, to a certain extent, but there is no relationship between happiness and income in the long run. In this study, it is aimed to test whether there is a relationship between income and happiness, in short, whether the Easterlin Paradox is valid. For this purpose, the 2007-2019 period data of eight selected (Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia) transition economies are used. Ultimately, the validity of the Easterlin Paradox has been proven.

Keywords

happiness economics, Easterlin Paradox, panel data analysis, income distribution, development

Easterlin Paradoksunun Geçerliliği: Seçili Geçiş Ekonomileri Örneği

Abstract

Mutluluğun kaynağına ilişkin pek çok farklı görüş bulunmaktadır. Mutluluk ekonomisinde gelir, mutluluğun en önemli kaynağı olarak gösterilmektedir. Bu sebeple gelir ve mutluluk arasındaki ilişki yıllardır tartışılagelmiş bir konu olmuş ve bu konuda özellikle de Easterlin Paradoksu bir ilk olarak öne çıkmıştır. Easterlin Paradoksu, hem ülke içerisinde hem de ülkeler arasında belirli bir düzeye kadar mutluluğun gelirle pozitif ilişkisi olduğunu, ancak uzun dönemde mutluluk ve gelir arasında bir ilişkinin olmadığını ileri sürmektedir. Bu çalışmada gelir ve mutluluk arasında bir ilişki olup olmadığı kısacası Easterlin Paradoksunun geçerli olup olmadığının test edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla seçili sekiz (Bulgaristan, Estonya, Letonya, Litvanya, Macaristan, Romanya, Slovakya, Slovenya) geçiş ekonomisinin 2007-2019 dönemi verilerinden yararlanılmıştır. Sonuçta Easterlin Paradoksunun geçerliliği kanıtlanmıştır.

Keywords

Mutluluk Ekonomisi, Easterlin Paradoksu, Panel Veri Analizi, Gelir Dağılımı, Gelişmişlik

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