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The Economics of Happiness

Research Project
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01.07.2006
 - 31.12.2037

The Economics of Happiness acknowledges that economic activity is not a goal in itself. Rather, its value derives from contributing to people's happiness. Individual welfare is approximated through surveys on subjective well-being. Based on this approach, it can be analyzed to what extent economic conditions and institutional factors determine individual welfare. Specific projects: - (Mis-)predicted subjective well-being following life events - Smoking bans, cigarette prices and life satisfaction - Limited self-control, obesity, and the loss of happiness - Emotions and political decision-making - Work from home, self-control and subjective well-being - Experiences during the impressionable years and attitudes towards redistribution - Federalism and subjective well-being - Elections and mental well-being

Collaborations & Cooperations

2099 - Participation or Organization of Collaborations within own University
Frey, Bruno S., Permanent Guest Professor, University of Basel, Research cooperation
2099 - Participation or Organization of Collaborations on a national level
Lalive, Rafael, Professor, University of Lausanne, Research cooperation
2099 - Participation or Organization of Collaborations on a national level
Lüchinger, Simon, Professor, University of Lucerne, Research cooperation
2034 - Participation or Organization of Collaborations within own University
Osterloh, Margit, Permanent Guest Professor, University of Basel, Research cooperation
2021 - Participation or Organization of Collaborations on an international level
Powdthavee, Nattavudh, Professor, University of Warwick, Research cooperation
2019 - Participation or Organization of Collaborations on a national level
Manai, Maha, Doctoral student, University of Lausanne, Research cooperation

Publications

Meier, Armando N., Schmid, Lukas and Stutzer, Alois (2016) ‘Rain, emotions and voting for the Status Quo’, IZA Discussion Papers. Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), (10350). Available at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp10350.pdf.

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Stutzer, Alois and Meier, Armando N. (2016) ‘Limited Self-control, Obesity, and the Loss of Happiness’, Health Economics, 25(11), pp. 1409–1424. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.3227.

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Stutzer, Alois and Odermatt, Reto (2016) ‘Rauchverbote machen zufriedener. Glücksforschung analysiert Tabakprävention aus umfassender Perspektive’, Tages-Anzeiger, 1 January, p. 13. Available at: https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/leben/gesellschaft/rauchverbote-machen-zufriedener/story/26412170.

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Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2016) ‘Policy Consequences of Happiness Research’, in Bartolini, Stefano; Bilancini, Ennio; Bruni, Luigino; Porta, Pier Luigi (ed.) Policies for Happiness. Oxford: Oxford University Press (Policies for Happiness), pp. 21–35. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198758730.003.0002.

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Odermatt, Reto and Stutzer, Alois (2015) ‘(Mis-)predicted subjective well-being following life events’, IZA discussion paper series [Preprint]. Institut zur Zukunft der Arbeit (IZA discussion paper series, 9252). Available at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp9252.pdf.

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Odermatt, Reto and Stutzer, Alois (2015) ‘Smoking bans, cigarette prices and life satisfaction’, Journal of Health Economics, 44, pp. 176–194. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2015.09.010.

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Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2014) ‘Economic Consequences of Mispredicting Utility’, Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(4), pp. 937–956. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9457-4.

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Luechinger, Simon, Schelker, Mark and Stutzer, Alois (2014) ‘Governance, bureaucratic rents, and well-being differentials across US states’, Oxford economic papers, 66(2), pp. 443–464. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpt006.

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Powdthavee, Nattavudh and Stutzer, Alois (2014) ‘Economic approaches to understanding change in happiness’, IZA Discussion Paper [Preprint]. Bonn: Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit (IZA Discussion Paper, 8131). Available at: http://www.iza.org/en/webcontent/publications/papers/viewAbstract?dp_id=8131.

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Powdthavee, Nattavudh and Stutzer, Alois (2014) ‘Economic Approaches to Understanding Change in Happiness’, in Sheldon, Kennon M.; Lucas, Richard E. (ed.) Stability of Happiness. Amsterdam: Elsevier (Stability of Happiness), pp. 219–244. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-411478-4.00011-4.

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Stutzer, Alois and Reggiani, Tommaso (2014) ‘On the Many Accounts of Public Happiness’, International Review of Economics, 61(2), pp. 109–113. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12232-014-0207-7.

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Henne, Thorsten and Stutzer, Alois (2014) ‘Aspiration Theory’, Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. Edited by Michalos, Alex C. New York: Springer (Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5.

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Lalive, Rafael, Manai, Maha and Stutzer, Alois (2014) ‘Gender Differences in Well-being and Equal Rights’, in Michalos, Alex C. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. Dordrecht: Springer Reference (Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research), pp. 2420 –2424. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_4181.

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Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2013) Recent Developments in the Economics of Happiness, International library of critical writings in economics. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar (International library of critical writings in economics). Available at: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781784710552.

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Odermatt, Reto and Stutzer, Alois (2013) ‘Smoking Bans, Cigarette Prices and Life Satisfaction’, Discussion Papers Series [Preprint]. Bonn: IZA (Discussion Papers Series, 7177). Available at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp7177.pdf.

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Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2013) ‘Economics and the Study of Individual Happiness’, in Oxford Handbook of Happiness. Oxford: Oxford University Press (Oxford Handbook of Happiness), pp. 431–447. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199557257.013.0034.

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Stutzer, Alois and Frey, Bruno S. (2013) ‘Recent Developments in the Economics of Happiness: a Selective Overview’, in Stutzer, Alois; Frey, Bruno S. (ed.) Recent Developments in the Economics of Happiness. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar (International library of critical writings in economics). Available at: https://doi.org/10.5451/unibas-ep28603.

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Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2012) ‘The Use of Happiness Research for Public Policy’, Social choice and welfare, 38(4), pp. 659–674. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00355-011-0629-z.

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Hsee, Christopher K., Rottenstreich, Yuval and Stutzer, Alois (2012) ‘Suboptimal choices and the need for experienced individual well-being in economic analysis’, International journal of happiness and development, 1(1), pp. 63–85. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1504/ijhd.2012.050826.

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Stutzer, Alois and Frey, Bruno S. (2012) ‘Recent developments in the economics of happiness: a selective overview’, IZA discussion paper series [Preprint]. Institut zur Zukunft der Arbeit (IZA discussion paper series, 7078). Available at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp7078.pdf.

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Frey, Bruno S., Stutzer, Alois and Neckermann, Susanne (2011) ‘Der Staat als Glücksmaximierer?’, in Dreier, Horst; Graf, Friedrich Wilhelm; Hesse, Joachim Jens (ed.) Staatswissenschaften und Staatspraxis. Baden-Baden: Nomos (Staatswissenschaften und Staatspraxis), pp. 420–436. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5771/9783845229256-420.

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Huppert, Felicia A. et al. (2011) ‘Mesurer le bien-être en Europe: Description du module bien-être ESS et résultats préliminaires’, in Martin-Krumm, Charles; Tarquinio, Cyril (ed.) Traité de psychologie positive. Bruxelles: De Boeck (Ouvertures psychologiques), pp. 135–149.

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Stutzer, Alois and Frey, Bruno S. (2011) ‘Ökonomische Analyse des Glücks: Inspirationen und Herausforderungen’, in Holenstein, André; Meyer Schweizer, Ruth; Perrig-Chiello, Pasqualina; Rusterholz, Peter; von Zimmermann, Christian; Zwahlen, Sara Margarita; Wagner, Andreas (ed.) Glück : Referate einer Vorlesungsreihe des Collegium Generale der Universität Bern im Frühjahrssemester 2010. Bern: Haupt (Berner Universitätsschriften), pp. 215–237.

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Benesch, Christine, Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2010) ‘TV channels, self control and happiness’, B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 10(1), p. 86. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2202/1935-1682.2119.

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Frey, Bruno S., Luechinger, Simon and Stutzer, Alois (2010) ‘The Life Satisfaction Approach to Environmental Valuation’, Annual Review of Resource Economics, 2, pp. 139–160. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.resource.012809.103926.

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Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2010) ‘Happiness and public choice’, Public Choice, 144(3-4), pp. 557–573. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11127-010-9681-y.

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Lalive, Rafael and Stutzer, Alois (2010) ‘Approval of equal rights and gender differences in well-being’, Journal of population economics, 23(3), pp. 933–962. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00148-009-0257-4.

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Luechinger, Simon, Meier, Stephan and Stutzer, Alois (2010) ‘Why does unemployment hurt the employed? Evidence from the life satisfaction gap between the public and the private sector’, Journal of Human Resources, 45(4), pp. 998–1045. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1353/jhr.2010.0024.

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Stutzer, Alois and Frey, Bruno S. (2010) ‘Recent advances in the economics of individual subjective well-being’, Social Research: An International Quarterly, 77(2), pp. 679–714.

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Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2010) ‘Glück : die ökonomische Analyse’, in Sozialpsychologie und Ökonomie : Beiträge des 25. Hamburger Symposions zur Methodologie der Sozialpsychologie. Lengerich: Pabst Science Publ. (Sozialpsychologie und Ökonomie : Beiträge des 25. Hamburger Symposions zur Methodologie der Sozialpsychologie), pp. 75–93.

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Frey, Bruno S., Luechinger, Simon and Stutzer, Alois (2009) ‘The Life Satisfaction Approach to Environmental Valuation’, WWZ Discussion Papers. Edited by WWZ Workingpapers Faculty of Business and Economics. WWZ (WWZ Discussion Papers, 07). Available at: http://wwz.unibas.ch/uploads/tx_x4epublication/file_03.pdf.

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Frey, Bruno S., Luechinger, Simon and Stutzer, Alois (2009) ‘The life satisfaction approach to valuing public goods : the case of terrorism’, Public choice, 138(3-4), pp. 317–345. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11127-008-9361-3.

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Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2009) ‘Ökonomische Analyse des Glücks : Inspirationen und Herausforderungen’, Die Unternehmung, 63(3), pp. 263–282.

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Huppert, Felicia A. et al. (2009) ‘Measuring well-being across Europe : description of the ESS well-being module and preliminary findings’, Social indicators research, 91(3), pp. 301–315. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-008-9346-0.

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Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2009) ‘Should national happiness be maximized?’, in Dutt, AK; Radcliff, B (ed.) Happiness, economics and politics : toward a multi-disciplinary approach. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar (Happiness, economics and politics : toward a multi-disciplinary approach), pp. 301–323. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781849801973.00023.

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Stutzer, Alois (2009) ‘Happiness when temptation overwhelms willpower’, in Dutt, AK; Radcliff, B (ed.) Happiness, economics and politics : toward a multi-disciplinary approach. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar (Happiness, economics and politics : toward a multi-disciplinary approach), pp. 97–126. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781849801973.00012.

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Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2008) ‘Economic consequences of mispredicting utility’, WWZ Discussion Papers. Edited by WWZ Workingpapers Faculty of Business and Economics. WWZ (WWZ Discussion Papers, 01).

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Luechinger, Simon, Meier, Stephan and Stutzer, Alois (2008) ‘Bureaucratic rents and life satisfaction’, Journal of law, economics, & organization, 24(2), pp. 476–488. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/jleo/ewm057.

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Luechinger, Simon, Meier, Stephan and Stutzer, Alois (2008) ‘Why does unemployment hurt the employed? Evidence from the life satisfaction gap between the public and the privat sector’, WWZ Discussion Papers. Edited by WWZ Workingpapers Faculty of Business and Economics. WWZ (WWZ Discussion Papers, 03).

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Meier, Stephan and Stutzer, Alois (2008) ‘Is volunteering rewarding in itself?’, Economica, 75(297), pp. 39–59. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0335.2007.00597.x.

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Stutzer, Alois and Frey, Bruno S. (2008) ‘Stress that doesn’t pay : the commuting paradox’, The Scandinavian journal of economics, 110(2), pp. 339–366. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9442.2008.00542.x.

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Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2008) ‘Das Glück aus ökonomischer Sicht’, in Hentschel, Beate; Staupe, Gisela (ed.) Glück - welches Glück. München: Hanser (Glück - welches Glück), p. S. 89–102.

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Frey, Bruno S., Benesch, Christine and Stutzer, Alois (2007) ‘Does watching TV make us happy?’, Journal of economic psychology, 28(3), pp. 283–313. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2007.02.001.

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Stutzer, Alois, Luechinger, Simon and Winkelmann, Rainer (2007) ‘The happiness gains from sorting and matching in the labor market’, WWZ Discussion Papers. Edited by WWZ Workingpapers Faculty of Business and Economics. WWZ (WWZ Discussion Papers, 01).

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Stutzer, Alois and Frey, Bruno S. (2007) ‘What happiness research can tell us about self-control problems and utility misprediction’, in Economics and psychology. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press (CESifo seminar series), p. S. 169–195.

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Stutzer, Alois and Lalive, Rafael (2004) ‘The role of social work norms in job searching and subjective well-being’, Journal of the European Economic Association, 2(4), pp. 696–719. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1162/1542476041423331.

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Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2002) ‘What can economists learn from happiness research?’, Journal of economic literature, 40(2), pp. 402–435. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.40.2.402.

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Frey, Bruno S. and Stutzer, Alois (2002) Happiness and economics : how the economy and institutions affect well-being. Princeton (N.J.): Princeton University Press.

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Members (6)

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Alois Stutzer

Principal Investigator
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Kerstin Frederike Hansen

Project Member
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Benjamin Jansen

Project Member
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Armando N. Meier

Project Member
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Reto Odermatt

Project Member
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Tobias Schib

Project Member