2012-09: The lucky country? Life satisfaction in Australia 2001-2010 (Working paper)

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Ambrey, Christopher L.
Fleming, Christopher M.
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Carmignani, Fabrizio

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2012
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31 pages

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Abstract

Employing data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, this paper examines the level, determinants and distribution of self-reported life satisfaction, as well as the prevalence and severity of dissatisfaction in Australia over the period 2001-2010. Against most objective measures, Australia's economic performance during this period was exemplary. Yet our results indicate an overall downward trend in life satisfaction, as well as a diminishing gap between the life satisfaction of males and females. Geographic heterogeneity in the distribution of life satisfaction is apparent, and a number of socio-economic and demographic factors are found to serve an important role in determining an individual's level of life satisfaction. Results also suggest that inequality in life satisfaction has generally declined. Measures of the extent of dissatisfaction reveal an encouraging downward trend and provide policy makers with an alternative perspective from which to assess societal welfare.

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Copyright © 2010 by author(s). No part of this paper may be reproduced in any form, or stored in a retrieval system, without prior permission of the author(s).

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Economics and Business Statistics

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I31 - General Welfare

C23 - Single Equation Models; Single Variables: Models with Panel Data; Longitudinal Data; Spatial Time Series

D63 - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

Happiness

Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA)

inequality

life satisfaction

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