Life Satisfaction of U.S. Counties Predicts Population Growth

Abstract

Subjective well-being reflects an overall evaluation of the quality of a person’s life from his or her perspective. Although subjective well-being is typically studied at the individual level, social scientists have become increasingly interested in the well-being of broader regions like cities, states, or nations. The current study examines the association between aggregate well-being and an important behavioral indicator of regional success: migration and population growth. Using life satisfaction data from over 2 million respondents, along with population data from 2000 to 2010, I show that U.S. counties with higher levels of life satisfaction grew at substantially faster rates than did counties with low life satisfaction. Supplemental analyses showed that this association was not due to regional differences in birth or death rates. Instead, counties with high life satisfaction experienced high levels of domestic migration. These results show the validity and utility of life satisfaction measures at the regional level.

Unhappy Cities

“…Lucas (2013) also finds higher rates of migration to counties with higher subjective wellbeing in the BRFSS, arguing that the migration patterns are consistent with a spatial equilibrium with happiness as a measure of utility. We find the relationship persists for quite long periods (from 1950 to 2000).…”

Unhappy Cities

“…Lucas (2013) also finds higher rates of migration to counties with higher subjective well-being in the BRFSS, arguing that the migration patterns are consistent with a spatial equilibrium with happiness as a measure of utility. We find that the relationship persists for quite long periods (from 1950 to 2000).…”

“…We now turn to a particularly striking correlation between urban unhappiness and decline (Glaeser and Redlick 2009; Lucas 2013). We first examine linear specifications and then allow the impact of population growth on subjective well-being to have a piecewise linear shape.…”

Moving Towards Happiness?

“…Several studies that use happiness to help predict intra‐country migration also indicate a relationship between migration and happiness. Lucas () finds that measures of life satisfaction in US counties help to predict county population growth. Similarly, Glaeser et al.…”

“…Several studies that use happiness to help predict intra-country migration also indicate a relationship between migration and happiness. Lucas (2013) finds that measures of life satisfaction in US counties help to predict county population growth. Similarly, Glaeser et al (2016) find that unhappy cities in the US tend to decline in population, implying net outward migration from less happy cities to happier places.…”