Income And Subjective Well-Being In Malaysia

Can money buy happiness? The income-happiness puzzle (Easterlin Paradox) points out that individuals with higher incomes are happier than people with lower incomes yet raising everyone’s income does not compensate with overall higher levels of happiness. This thesis aims to examine income and subjec...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Boo, Mei Chin
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.usm.my/47921/1/BOO%20MEI%20CHIN%20-%20INCOME%20AND%20SUBJECTIVE%20WELL-BEING.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
id my-usm-ep.47921
record_format uketd_dc
spelling my-usm-ep.479212020-11-20T03:19:32Z Income And Subjective Well-Being In Malaysia 2018-07 Boo, Mei Chin HG1-9999 Finance Can money buy happiness? The income-happiness puzzle (Easterlin Paradox) points out that individuals with higher incomes are happier than people with lower incomes yet raising everyone’s income does not compensate with overall higher levels of happiness. This thesis aims to examine income and subjective well-being in Malaysia. The research focuses on two measures of subjective well-being – happiness and life satisfaction. Based on the wave 5 (2005-2009) and wave 6 (2010-2014) data obtained from the World Values Survey, this study addresses the issue of subjective well-being inequalities from different income groups. The survey was carried out in year 2006 for wave 5 and year 2011 for wave 6. People were happier and more satisfied in year 2011 compared to year 2006. However, over the same period, happiness and life satisfaction inequalities were found to be higher among the low-income group compared with the higher income groups. This study also examines the influence of absolute income, relative income and expected income on happiness and life satisfaction based on wave 6. Using the ordered logit regression analysis, it is found that higher absolute income contributes to greater happiness and satisfaction levels among Malaysians. In terms of the role of relative income on happiness, ‘tunnel effect’ is observed in particular among those in the low-income group. When compared with others who earn relatively higher income, Malaysians are less satisfied with life but the effect is found to be reversed in their happiness levels. Higher expected income seems to generate greater satisfaction among Malaysians. Other factors such as health, employment, religiosity, trust and democracy do influence Malaysian happiness and life satisfaction. 2018-07 Thesis http://eprints.usm.my/47921/ http://eprints.usm.my/47921/1/BOO%20MEI%20CHIN%20-%20INCOME%20AND%20SUBJECTIVE%20WELL-BEING.pdf application/pdf en public phd doctoral Universiti Sains Malaysia Pusat Pengajian Pendidikan Jarak Jauh
institution Universiti Sains Malaysia
collection USM Institutional Repository
language English
topic HG1-9999 Finance
spellingShingle HG1-9999 Finance
Boo, Mei Chin
Income And Subjective Well-Being In Malaysia
description Can money buy happiness? The income-happiness puzzle (Easterlin Paradox) points out that individuals with higher incomes are happier than people with lower incomes yet raising everyone’s income does not compensate with overall higher levels of happiness. This thesis aims to examine income and subjective well-being in Malaysia. The research focuses on two measures of subjective well-being – happiness and life satisfaction. Based on the wave 5 (2005-2009) and wave 6 (2010-2014) data obtained from the World Values Survey, this study addresses the issue of subjective well-being inequalities from different income groups. The survey was carried out in year 2006 for wave 5 and year 2011 for wave 6. People were happier and more satisfied in year 2011 compared to year 2006. However, over the same period, happiness and life satisfaction inequalities were found to be higher among the low-income group compared with the higher income groups. This study also examines the influence of absolute income, relative income and expected income on happiness and life satisfaction based on wave 6. Using the ordered logit regression analysis, it is found that higher absolute income contributes to greater happiness and satisfaction levels among Malaysians. In terms of the role of relative income on happiness, ‘tunnel effect’ is observed in particular among those in the low-income group. When compared with others who earn relatively higher income, Malaysians are less satisfied with life but the effect is found to be reversed in their happiness levels. Higher expected income seems to generate greater satisfaction among Malaysians. Other factors such as health, employment, religiosity, trust and democracy do influence Malaysian happiness and life satisfaction.
format Thesis
qualification_name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.)
qualification_level Doctorate
author Boo, Mei Chin
author_facet Boo, Mei Chin
author_sort Boo, Mei Chin
title Income And Subjective Well-Being In Malaysia
title_short Income And Subjective Well-Being In Malaysia
title_full Income And Subjective Well-Being In Malaysia
title_fullStr Income And Subjective Well-Being In Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Income And Subjective Well-Being In Malaysia
title_sort income and subjective well-being in malaysia
granting_institution Universiti Sains Malaysia
granting_department Pusat Pengajian Pendidikan Jarak Jauh
publishDate 2018
url http://eprints.usm.my/47921/1/BOO%20MEI%20CHIN%20-%20INCOME%20AND%20SUBJECTIVE%20WELL-BEING.pdf
_version_ 1747821849044058112