Area-Level Income Inequality and Individual Happiness: Evidence from Japan |
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Authors: | Takashi Oshio Miki Kobayashi |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan;(2) Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan |
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Abstract: | In this study, we investigated how area-level income inequality is associated with an individual’s assessment of happiness,
based on micro-level data sourced from nationwide surveys in Japan. It was confirmed from our analysis using logit models
that individuals who live in areas of high income inequality tend to report themselves as being less happy, even after controlling
for various individual and area-level factors. The association between inequality and happiness is modestly significant, regardless
of the choice of covariates at an individual level, and stronger at a lower level of perceived happiness. Moreover, sensitivity
to inequality differs substantially according to certain individual attributes. Among others, an important implication for
social policy is that those with unstable occupational status are more sensitive to inequality. Given that these people tend
to be less happy than others, this result indicates the risk that area-level inequality further reduces the well-being of
those with unfavorable employment conditions. |
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Keywords: | |
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