Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2017.1311229
Using a multilevel modelling approach to explain the influence of economic development on the subjective well-being of individuals
Matic Novak
Marko Pahor
Abstract
Individual-level factors and country-level determinants influence
our satisfaction; therefore, the single-level models that prevail in the
analyses of subjective well-being are not appropriate. Thus, this article
aims to add a multilevel perspective to the understanding of selfreported
well-being. We analyse the impact of gross national income
on the life satisfaction of individuals. We develop a two-level regression
model based on the existing ‘economics of happiness’ literature.
Factors describing an individual’s characteristics are included at the
within level, measures describing the social situation are included at
both levels, while a nation’s income, inflation and unemployment rates
are between-level variables. In order to obtain the moderating effects
of gross national income per capita on the influence of individuals’
relative incomes, a random intercept and random intercept-random
slope model are tested using the cross-sectional data from the last
wave of the World Values Survey. Our results support the hypotheses
that the impact of relative income on subjective well-being decreases
with the development of a country.
Keywords
Subjective well-being; multilevel model; life satisfaction; income; contextual effects
Hrčak ID:
182556
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2017.
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