Subjective Well-Being and Social Comparison: A Comparative Study on Rural Thailand and Vietnam

Pham, Thi Kim Cuong; Nguyen-Van, Phu; Nguyen-Huu, Thanh Tam; Tran, Thi Anh-Dao; Kone, Noukignon

doi:10.3917/redp.296.0993

Cited by 1 publication

(8 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…Other variables indicating the location and geographic characteristics, such as proximity to the coast, airport and main road, also significantly impact individual life satisfaction. For the case of developing countries, such as Vietnam and Thailand, Pham et al (2019) show that natural risks (drought, flooding and heavy ice rain) affect households' wellbeing, but differently in the two countries. More precisely, they find that environmental risks in the past have a positive effect on the fact that households feel better off than the previous year or the previous five years.…”

Section: Individual Well-being Public Facilities and Local Characteri...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, individual income always represents one of the most important factors explaining well-being, but this income effect may be mediated by social comparison (e.g. Senik, 2005;Clark et al, 2017;Pham et al, 2019;Algan, Malgouyres, & Senik, 2020) [2]. In particular, the paper What can we learn from subjective data?…”

Section: Individual Well-being Public Facilities and Local Characteri...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The latter study also shows a concordance of results using subjective well-being data and results based on hypothetical discrete-choice questions regarding income comparisons. Pham et al (2019) use data from surveys on rural households in Vietnam and Thailand and show that income is one of the key determinants of households' subjective well-being. Moreover, households are sensitive to relative poverty.…”

Section: Individual Well-being Public Facilities and Local Characteri...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some other studies have focused on external factors, such as economic and environmental risks, geographical location and environmental quality, as potential determinants of individual well-being (e.g., Welsch, 2006; Ferrer-i-Carbonell & Gowdy, 2007; Brereton et al. , 2008; Rehdanz & Maddison, 2005, 2008; Pham et al. , 2019).…”

Section: Individual Well-being Public Facilities and Local Characteri...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Carlsson, Johansson-Stenman, & Martisson, 2007; Clark, Yamada, & Senik, 2017). Some other studies have focused on external factors, such as economic and environmental risks, geographical location and environmental quality, as potential determinants of individual well-being (Ferrer-i-Carbonell & Gowdy, 2007; Brereton, Clinch, & Ferreira, 2008; Rehdanz & Maddison, 2005, 2008; Pham, Nguyen-Van, Nguyen, Tran, & Noukignon, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Public services, environmental quality and subjective well-being in a European city: the case of Strasbourg metropolitan area

Heraud,

Nguyen-Van,

Pham

2023

FREP

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PurposeThis paper analyzes individual subjective well-being using a survey database from the Strasbourg metropolitan development council (France). The authors focus on the effects of externalities generated by public services (transport, culture and sport), environmental quality and feeling of security in the Strasbourg metropolitan area (Eurométropole de Strasbourg, EMS). Results show that EMS specificities (public facilities, environmental quality, safety and security) and individual features like opportunities to laugh or live with children significantly influence individual well-being. These findings are robust when using three subjective measures: feeling of well-being, environmental satisfaction and social life satisfaction. The authors also show that income may affect the perceived well-being of individuals belonging to a low-income group, while individuals belonging to a high-income group tend to be unsatisfied with environmental quality but satisfied with their social life. Besides, social comparison in terms of income does not matter for individual well-being in the Strasbourg metropolitan area.Design/methodology/approachTheoretical and empirical paper —Utility theory in economics—Econometric modeling using an ordered probit model.FindingsSpecificities of the Strasbourg metropolitan area-France (public services related to transport, culture and sport, environmental quality perceived as convenient for individual health, sense of security) significantly impact individual subjective well-being. Income does not substantially impact the individual subjective perception of happiness: income may matter for the feeling of well-being only for individuals belonging to a low-income group. Wealthy individuals tend to be unsatisfied with environmental quality but satisfied with their social life. Social comparison in terms of income does not matter for individual well-being in the Strasbourg metropolitan area.Research limitations/implicationsCross-sectional data, but it is the only available database from a survey conducted by EMS in 2017 to collect information on potential elements relative to individual well-being in the Strasbourg metropolitan area.Practical implicationsResults shed light on the role of territorial policies in improving individual well-being and might provide some guidelines for policy-makers concerned about the population’s welfare. Policy-makers should give strong attention to public facilities (an essential element of local public action) and improve environmental quality. If they care about the population’s happiness, they have to reorient current policies in this direction. Of course, through the inquiry in 2017 giving this database, the Strasbourg agglomeration development council aimed to provide such evidence to the local administration. Nevertheless, the results were a bit upsetting for many people in the administrative and political circles, who generally prioritize economic and demographic development, while the citizens’ responses to the inquiry have revealed a strong focus on the quality of everyday life in their neighborhood.Originality/valueThe present study contributes to the literature on subjective well-being, with a focus on the role of local characteristics and living environment. The authors’ starting point is related to the standard utility theory, indicating that environmental quality and public services are positive externalities. The authors investigate whether the local living environment and public facilities are crucial elements explaining individual well-being. To do this, we consider three subjective measures: feeling of well-being, environmental satisfaction and social life satisfaction, which are used as proxies of individual utility. The authors consider different explicative variables representing specificities of EMS in terms of public services (transport, culture and sport), environmental quality perceived as convenient for individual health, safety and security, etc. The authors also provide a test for relative standing by including the median monthly household income at the municipality level.

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Section: Individual Well-being Public Facilities and Local Characteri...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Individual Well-being Public Facilities and Local Characteri...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Individual Well-being Public Facilities and Local Characteri...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Individual Well-being Public Facilities and Local Characteri...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Public services, environmental quality and subjective well-being in a European city: the case of Strasbourg metropolitan area

Heraud,

Nguyen-Van,

Pham

2023

FREP

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Subjective Well-Being and Social Comparison: A Comparative Study on Rural Thailand and Vietnam

Cited by 1 publication

References 25 publications

Public services, environmental quality and subjective well-being in a European city: the case of Strasbourg metropolitan area

Public services, environmental quality and subjective well-being in a European city: the case of Strasbourg metropolitan area

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