Search Results (24)

Background/Objective: While positive emotions enhance productivity, little is known about whether income inequality will decrease if low-income individuals become happier. Methods: Relying on data from China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) from 2010 to 2018 and a regression-based decomposition method, this study investigates the contribution of happiness gap to income inequality. Results: The results show that a 1% increase in happiness leads to a 0.064–0.124% increase in income. This study employs average daily sunshine hours as an instrumental variable for happiness. The results from the two-stage least squares estimation also support the conclusion that an increase in happiness can lead to higher income. The decomposition results show that the happiness gap increases income inequality, although its contribution has decreased between 2010 and 2018. This positive effect is attributed to gaps in physical health and spare time devoted to learning. More precisely, happiness improves physical health among the upper-middle-income group and promotes spare time devoted to learning in the high-income group. Conversely, happiness narrows income inequality by reducing psychological stress in the low-income group. Conclusions: The results suggest that the enhancement of residents’ sense of acquisition, satisfaction and happiness, especially among the low-income group, thereby reducing income inequality. Full article

This article outlines the experiences of two tutors from an adult education department shut down by its higher education institution (HEI). It is a chronological reflective account of how members of the department responded to their exclusion by re-establishing their provision as a cooperative community benefit society (CBS), Leicester Vaughan College (LVC). This response was not only an expression of resistance, but it was an antidote to the neoliberal university system, which all too often undervalues adult education, marginalises adult learners or excludes their education altogether. As educators and students together, the aim was to use our understanding of the processes and practices of higher adult education to reconstruct this provision in a collaborative and cooperative way. Our experience before and after ‘expulsion’, and the reimagination of an alternative future in contrast to the dominant neoliberal model, shines a light on the wider difficulties and inequalities in the HE sector. As we searched (and continue to search) for a ‘happy ending’ with LVC, the multiple hurdles experienced exemplify the difficulties of trying to create a space for a new paradigm within hostile, shifting structures shaped by neoliberal regulatory and economic imperatives. This article finishes by setting out a context in which adult HE and institutions like LVC could flourish. Full article

This study contributes to the growing body of research on the relationship between subjective well-being and academic performance in schools by providing a context-specific analysis of Chilean students. Using 2022 SIMCE data—a national standardized assessment in Chile—from 4th and 10th graders (N = 292,725), the research employs hierarchical linear modeling to explore how students’ school happiness relates with performance in language and mathematics, accounting for socioeconomic status, gender, origin, self-efficacy, and previous year’s grades. The findings reveal that students who self-report feeling happy at school tend to perform better academically, though this varies by grade level and subject. In early grades, happiness mitigates the negative effects of low socioeconomic status, with lower-income students benefiting more. By 10th grade, wealthier students and boys show a stronger association between happiness and academic performance, particularly in mathematics. This study also highlights the critical role of self-efficacy in math, showing that students with higher self-efficacy not only perform better but benefit from happiness at school. Additionally, foreign-origin students experience varying benefits, emphasizing the need for culturally responsive and gender-sensitive interventions. These findings underscore the importance of promoting happiness at school and academic self-efficacy to reduce educational inequalities and enhance learning outcomes. Full article

This study examines the intricate relationship between national happiness and sustainability by analyzing data from the 2024 World Happiness Report (WHR) and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Index across 74 countries. Employing multidimensional scaling (MDS) and K-means clustering, we investigate the interplay of economic, social, and environmental factors that contribute to subjective well-being. Our results indicate that high-income countries, particularly those characterized by secular–rational values, tend to achieve elevated scores in both happiness and sustainability. In contrast, lower-income nations exhibit diverse cultural value systems that significantly influence their happiness and sustainability outcomes. This analysis identifies distinct clusters of countries with unique governance and cultural profiles, underscoring the inadequacies of traditional economic indicators in measuring societal well-being. By integrating sustainability metrics into happiness assessments, we propose a comprehensive framework for understanding and promoting human happiness. These findings offer critical insights for policymakers aiming to address pressing global challenges, including inequality and health disparities. Full article

The sustainable development of rural tourism requires not only active participation from the government and enterprises but is also closely tied to the attitudes of local residents. This study, grounded in the theories of relative deprivation and social comparison, focuses on the residents living near the Jinshi Gorge Scenic Area in Shangluo City. We constructed a structural equation model to explore how residents’ perceptions of the social environment in rural tourism influence their sense of relative deprivation, enhance their happiness, and ultimately promote the sustainable development of rural tourism. The study’s findings reveal the following: (1) that demographic characteristics, including age, education level, and annual income, significantly influence residents’ perceptions of their social environment, particularly their sense of group identity, social support, and feelings of inequality. (2) Levels of relative deprivation vary significantly across different demographic groups. (3) There is a strong positive correlation between individual cognitive relative deprivation and individual emotional relative deprivation. Similarly, group cognitive relative deprivation positively predicts group emotional relative deprivation. (4) Experiences of discrimination, feelings of inequality, and strength of group identity emerge as significant predictors of both individual and group-level cognitive and emotional relative deprivation. (5) Social support has a significant negative effect on individual cognition, individual emotions, group cognition, and group emotional relative deprivation. Full article

This study aims to describe a local community expert’s perspective on the identification of and access to children’s health assets and to gather proposals to promote children’s health and well-being within their community. The health asset approach is essential for health promotion, and there is evidence of its benefits to individuals’ or communities’ health when this approach is observed. Children’s health assets are gaining increasing interest, but the literature that captures the perception of professionals working with children is scarce. Qualitative research designed with Delphi methodology was carried out with the participation of 25 professionals working in a neighbourhood with children and families. The participants stated that this neighbourhood was a good environment for the healthy and happy growth of children but pointed out that there were inequities. They emphasised the importance of economic and physical security and feeling loved. The absolute best aspects of the neighbourhood according to these experts were its support networks, mutual help, educational and health services, and green spaces, and the most deficient aspects were the possibility of a hopeful future and emotional support within the family unit. Poverty and/or the scarcity of economic resources were identified as the main barriers to accessing health assets. Special difficulties in access to health for migrant and Roma children were also identified. The panel of experts made concrete action proposals. It was recommended to support resources and services that already exist in their community. The experts prioritised work with families, education, working in conjunction with vulnerable groups, community participation, and networking. Full article

Geoscientists are involved in both the upstream and downstream side of the extractive industries. As explorationists and field geologists, they are often the first technical people related to extractive industries that communities meet. It is imperative in an increasingly globalized and holistic world that geoscientists gain greater awareness of the socio-economic impact of extractive industries and become a more proactive part of improving outcomes for all with respect to extractive industries. When Jigme Singye Wangchuk, the King of Bhutan, first suggested the concept of ‘Gross National Happiness’ (GNH) in 1972, it was met with widespread cynicism and puzzlement. Was the concept meaningful in a hard, economically competitive world? A series of measures, including the Human Development Index (HDI), the Gini Coefficient (GC), and the now annual World Happiness Report (WHR), are evolutionary responses to the 1972 GNH and are widely accepted as proxy measures of holistic human progress. These measures go beyond the narrow confines of Gross Domestic Product and similar economic proxies, placing economic parameters alongside the social, environmental, spiritual, human rights, health, and holistic societal issues. The broad conclusions of the plethora of metrics are that ‘happiness’ links to issues and ideas such as equity, minimal economic inequality, excellent governance, human rights, individual freedom, and so forth. We ask the question: what is the relationship between extractive industries (EIs) and GNH? We present a wide range of data and analytical diagrams/text examining potential correlations and associations between GNH and EIs. We examine potential relationships using global data and case studies for Papua New Guinea, Mongolia, the DRC, and Jamaica. The conclusions of this analysis of course suggest a complex relationship between EIs and GNH. We acknowledge that in situations of weak governance and institutions, EIs struggle to make any tangible difference with respect to GNH. A counter conclusion that EIs may even be a major cause of weak governance, which in turn suppresses happiness, must be seriously considered. We document examples where EIs have made a definitive positive improvement to GNH. Data suggest that hydrocarbon-rich countries have made better progress with respect to GNH than mineral-rich countries. However, the main conclusion is that the link between EIs and GNH remains a work in progress, and that a narrow focus on profit and shareholder return is an antithetical approach to the GNH paradigm. A key recommendation is that industry must adopt a far more active role (rather than merely a passive role) with respect to translating the many potential benefits of EIs into GNH than has hitherto been the case. Full article

The outbreak of COVID-19 posed a challenge to global governance, residents’ happiness, and economic systems around the world. Since the crux of previous research centers on the reactions of both local and national governments, studies on how governance arrangement at the neighborhood level influences people’s happiness during the crisis response remain insufficient. This paper aims to explore the relationship between neighborhood governance and residents’ happiness based on first-hand data collected during Wuhan’s first lockdown. This study highlights the significance of neighborhood governance in crisis response, which includes providing diverse public services, ensuring access to life’s necessities, and offering prompt medical treatment. All of these factors are essential for maintaining overall satisfaction with governance and contributing to the happiness of individuals within the community. However, active governance actions do not always lead to favorable results. For example, increased group participation may lead to social conflicts among those involved, ultimately diminishing one’s happiness. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a risk ‘amplifier’, exposing and exacerbating pre-existing hukou-based social inequalities in the governance process. The impact of the pandemic on citizen happiness is the cumulative effect of both the immediate social crisis brought on by the pandemic and long-standing structural inequalities. To improve people’s happiness and establish inclusive policies, this paper advocates for a ‘people-centered’ urban governance that enhances public satisfaction and addresses the needs and priorities of migrant populations. Full article

In preparation for the expected super-aged society in 2025, this study attempted to prepare basic data that can help design development measures for the welfare of the elderly so that everyone can prepare for a healthy and happy retirement. Accordingly, the major factors affecting the quality of life of the elderly in Korea were verified. To this end, the questionnaire consisted of 22 questions in total, and a mobile survey was conducted between September and October 2021; in total, 250 copies were used for the final analysis, and the following conclusions are derived. The major factors that were found to determine the quality of life of the elderly were age, subjective health status, monthly household income, leisure activities, and health inequality fairness. It was found that the higher the age, the lower the quality of life. Further, the higher the subjective health status, monthly household income, participation in leisure activities, and perceptions of health inequality as fair, the more the quality of life of the elderly was affected. Therefore, policy support such as leisure activity, health programs, and medical welfare services for the elderly and sufficient attention from our society are all required. Full article

The purpose of this investigation is to explore the effect of objective and subjective personal income on perceived national security in the Baltic states, including Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. A representative quantitative survey was conducted in three Baltic countries in August 2021. The fieldwork was carried out by the public opinion and market research company Baltic Surveys. The sampling method in the three countries was the same: the probability multi-stage structural method, based on criteria of geographical region, size of settlement, gender, and age. The survey involved more than 1000 respondents per country. Multivariate statistical analysis, including correlation analysis and linear regression analysis was performed. The percentage distribution of the variable on the perception of safety reveals that more than half of the respondents in all Baltic countries agreed that they feel safe living in their own country. Moreover, it is notable that the feeling of safety in Estonia is higher than in the other two countries. Meanwhile, in Lithuania, the evaluation of the feeling of safety is lower than in Estonia and Latvia. The association of the feeling of safety in the country with the subjective perception of income is stronger than the objective income. Additionally, it is important to note that absence of financial difficulties, happiness with current income, and not worrying too much about spending on necessities are the strongest determinants for perceived security in each Baltic country. The findings that have been drawn from this investigation could be applied to ensure both national and economic security and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, such as no poverty (1SDG) and reduced inequalities (10 SDG). Full article

An imbalanced distribution of income and welfare characterizes a developing or transitional economy such as China’s. Even after forty years of reform and rapid economic growth, there is still considerable disparity in wellbeing across different institutional settings in China. Major inequalities exist between rural and urban areas, public and for profit sectors, and state-owned and private enterprises. This paper presents the descriptive differences in individual wellbeing across these kinds of institutional settings from objective and subjective perspectives, enabled by the five waves of the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS; the years of 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015). The results show that: (1) people in urban China enjoy more objective wellbeing than people in rural China, but less subjective wellbeing; (2) people who work for the public sector enjoy more objective and subjective wellbeing than those for the for profit sector; (3) people who work for the state owned enterprises enjoy more objective wellbeing than those for the for profit sector, but subjective happiness is not significantly different. Furthermore, people’s perception of subjective wellbeing not only relies upon substantive objective wellbeing, but also an affiliation with a certain type of institution. Full article

“Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness”, is what millions of Americans strive for. The onset of COVID-19 has highlighted the disparities that exist among Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, which are facing food access inequities. In this paper, we argue that engaging in growing food sustainably can improve food access, support food justice and enhance sense of purpose and well-being. We expand the notion of Food Well-Being (FWB) to include food producers—especially gardeners—and hypothesize that gardening has the potential to enhance FWB, regardless of the racial and socio-economic background. However, without policies tackling social and racial justice issues, structural barriers may hinder this potential. We use three studies to draw a rich profile of sustainable food gardeners in Arizona, USA and their well-being: (a) the children and teachers engaged in school gardens in the Phoenix metropolitan area; (b) sustainable gardeners and farmers in Phoenix and Tucson; (c) Arizona gardeners during the pandemic. The results show a connection between sustainable gardening and eudemonic well-being, and an impact on the five FWB dimensions (physical, intellectual, spiritual, emotional and social). However, without appropriate policies, funding and infrastructure, the impact might remain minimal, volatile and subject to tokenism. Full article

Urban planning and design can impact mental health, but it is unclear how ever-growing and changing cities can sustain the psychological wellbeing of vulnerable groups, who are among the most mentally sensitive to spatial inequalities. This systematic review synthesised quantitative and qualitative studies on urban design interventions and their impact on wellbeing in vulnerable groups. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched five online databases from inception to May 2020. A total of 10 papers were included. We found mixed evidence of benefits for wellbeing linked to urban regeneration projects or focused interventions (green spaces, transport, security). Interventions that were centred around participation, sustainable living, and quality of design (e.g., perceived sense of safety) were associated with increased residential satisfaction and wellbeing, particularly among low-income communities and women. Risk of bias was low to medium, but there was high methodological heterogeneity; studies were mainly from Western countries, and none of the included studies investigated the experiences of people with disabilities, migrants, or racial minorities. This review highlights the importance of inclusive and sustainable design interventions to create happy places for all strata of society, although further investigation is warranted. Full article

Sustainable development has become a central and key goal for humanity (1 UN: Millenium Development Goals, 2 SDGs). There is no scientific or political consensus, however, about the root cause of unsustainability, so an effective cure is impossible. Nevertheless, unlimited inequality among nations and individuals, extreme poverty, and hunger are always among the most significant problems. It is also often claimed that the world’s current food production would be sufficient to feed all 7.7 billion people on Earth (see Appendix A 1) with a better (more even, ‘just’) distribution. Others use food hunger and poverty data to support claims for increased food production and agricultural output. In this paper we examine the first claim with real data, but from a theoretical perspective: is it true, theoretically, that if all of the produced and wasted food were made available to feed the extremely poor and hungry, we could reach zero hunger-related deaths? We will use food waste, hunger-related (+thirst) death, obesity, and calorie consumption data from the “happy” and “unhappy” parts of the Earth. The cause of food waste is dissonant in different economic systems, so its macro- and microeconomic approach is also completely different in different countries. The relationship between obesity, hunger, and food waste has not yet been explored in a structured framework; data are available but scattered. In this paper we propose a unified framework of comparable data as a first step in mapping the biggest missing, or at least wobbling circle of modern bio-economy: global food supply. Thinking globally is a first step toward progress development in food justice and a solution to UN sustainable development goals (SDG 2, 1, 3, and 10). Full article

Sustainable development plays a vital role in information and communication technology. In times of pandemics such as COVID-19, vulnerable people need help to survive. This help includes the distribution of relief packages and materials by the government with the primary objective of lessening the economic and psychological effects on the citizens affected by disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there has not been an efficient way to monitor public funds’ accountability and transparency, especially in developing countries such as Nigeria. The understanding of public emotions by the government on distributed palliatives is important as it would indicate the reach and impact of the distribution exercise. Although several studies on English emotion classification have been conducted, these studies are not portable to a wider inclusive Nigerian case. This is because Informal Nigerian English (Pidgin), which Nigerians widely speak, has quite a different vocabulary from Standard English, thus limiting the applicability of the emotion classification of Standard English machine learning models. An Informal Nigerian English (Pidgin English) emotions dataset is constructed, pre-processed, and annotated. The dataset is then used to classify five emotion classes (anger, sadness, joy, fear, and disgust) on the COVID-19 palliatives and relief aid distribution in Nigeria using standard machine learning (ML) algorithms. Six ML algorithms are used in this study, and a comparative analysis of their performance is conducted. The algorithms are Multinomial Naïve Bayes (MNB), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Logistics Regression (LR), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and Decision Tree (DT). The conducted experiments reveal that Support Vector Machine outperforms the remaining classifiers with the highest accuracy of 88%. The “disgust” emotion class surpassed other emotion classes, i.e., sadness, joy, fear, and anger, with the highest number of counts from the classification conducted on the constructed dataset. Additionally, the conducted correlation analysis shows a significant relationship between the emotion classes of “Joy” and “Fear”, which implies that the public is excited about the palliatives’ distribution but afraid of inequality and transparency in the distribution process due to reasons such as corruption. Conclusively, the results from this experiment clearly show that the public emotions on COVID-19 support and relief aid packages’ distribution in Nigeria were not satisfactory, considering that the negative emotions from the public outnumbered the public happiness. Full article