Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/34422 
Year of Publication: 
2007
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 3170
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
The statistical analysis of cross-section data very often reveals a U-shaped relationship between subjective well-being and age. This paper uses fourteen waves of British panel data to distinguish between two potential explanations of this shape: a pure life-cycle or aging effect, and a fixed cohort effect depending on year of birth. Panel analysis controlling for fixed effects continues to produce a U-shaped relationship between well-being and age, although this U-shape is flatter for life satisfaction than for the GHQ measure of mental well-being. The pattern of the estimated cohort effects also differs between the two well-being measures and, to an extent, by demographic group. In particular, those born earlier report more positive GHQ scores, controlling for their current age; this phenomenon is especially prevalent for women.
Subjects: 
Subjective well-being
cohorts
fixed effects
panel data
JEL: 
C23
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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