Türkiye’de Gelir, Sosyal Karşılaştırmalar ve Mutluluk: 2024 Yaşam Memnuniyeti Araştırması’ndan Bulgular

Öz

Standart iktisat teorisi, bireylerin refah ve mutluluğu üzerinde sadece mutluk gelir seviyelerinin etkili olduğunu varsaymıştır. İktisatta davranışsal yaklaşımlarım etkisiyle bireysel mutluluğun başkalarının sahip olduklarına, geçmiş deneyimlere ve gelecekti beklentilere de bağlı olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Buradan hareketle çalışmada, 2024 Yaşam Memnuniyeti Araştırması veri seti kullanılarak, Türkiye’de gelir, sosyal karşılaştırmalar ve mutluluk arasındaki ilişki incelenmiştir. Bu amaç için bireylerin mutlak ve nispi konumunu gösteren faktörler dört kategoride sınıflandırılmış ve temel bileşenler analizi kullanılarak “yaşam biçimi karşılaştırması” adlı bir sosyal karşılaştırma ölçütü oluşturulmuştur. Bu faktörlerin mutluluğa etkisi genelleştirilmiş sıralı logit model ile tahmin edilmiştir. Bulgular, Türkiye’de bireysel mutluluğun belirleyicileri arasında göreli konumun, mutlak gelir düzeyi kadar güçlü bir etkiye sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Literatürden farklı olarak, dışsal karşılaştırma ölçütü olarak tanımlanan “yaşam biçimi karşılaştırması” değişkeni ile başkalarının yaşam koşullarına verilen önemin bireylerin mutluluğu için önemli olduğu görülmüştür. Ayrıca bireylerin geleceğe dair ekonomik beklentileri ile son bir yıl içinde yaşadıkları ekonomik değişimlerin mutluluk üzerinde etkili olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Genel olarak bu çalışma, Türkiye’de ekonomik göstergelerin hem nesnel hem de öznel etkilerle bireylerin iyi oluşunu şekillendirdiğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sosyal Karşılaştırmlar
• Gelir
• Türkiye'de Mutluluk

Income, Social Comparisons and Happiness in Türkiye: Findings from 2024 Life Satisfaction Survey

Öz

Standard economic theory has long assumed that individual well-being and happiness are determined solely by income levels. However, insights from behavioral approaches in economics demonstrate that individual happiness is also shaped by relative comparisons, past experiences, and expectations about the future. Building on this perspective, the present study examined the relationship between income, social comparisons, and happiness in Türkiye using data from the 2024 Life Satisfaction Survey. To capture both absolute and relative positions, factors were grouped into four categories, and a novel social comparison indicator, termed “lifestyle comparison,” was developed using principal component analysis. The effects of these factors on happiness were estimated through a generalized ordered logit model. The findings suggest that relative position exerts an influence on happiness comparable to that of absolute income. Distinct from much of the existing literature, the external comparison variable “lifestyle comparison” indicates that individuals’ attention to the living standards of others significantly affects their happiness. In addition, both future economic expectations and economic changes experienced over the past year were found to play a role in shaping well-being. Overall, the study highlights that economic indicators in Türkiye influence happiness not only through objective income levels but also via subjective perceptions and social comparisons.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Social Comparisons
• Income
• Happiness in Türkiye

Kaynakça

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