Healthy and happy in Europe? On the association between happiness and life expectancy over time

作者：Bjornskov Christian^*

来源：Social Science & Medicine, 2008, 66(8): 1750-1759.

DOI：10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.01.031

• happiness
• life expectancy
• panel data
• Europe
• cross-national
• health expenditure

This paper revisits the standard finding in individual-level studies that happiness leads to longevity. It does so in a cross-country time-series analysis in which the use of a random effects estimator controls for most relevant time-invariant factors. The findings suggest that happiness is negatively associated with longevity at the national level, and suggests a potential indirect transmission channel, as national happiness is negatively associated with public health expenditures. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of the results for public policy and future research.

• 出版日期2008-4