Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/297267 
Year of Publication: 
2023
Series/Report no.: 
IFN Working Paper No. 1471
Publisher: 
Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN), Stockholm
Abstract: 
There is widespread concern, especially in certain feminist circles, that a market-oriented economic system, or capitalism, disfavors women. This could take many forms, such as lower wages for the same type of work, reduced career opportunities, disparities in ownership and the upholding of traditional gender roles. In all, this could influence overall life satisfaction such that capitalism confers more life satisfaction on men than on women. We test empirically whether this concern is justified. Using the epidemiological approach to rule out reverse causality, we first confirm previous findings that most areas of economic freedom (legal quality in particular, but also monetary stability, openness and regulation) are beneficial for general life satisfaction. When looking at women and men separately, we find virtually no statistically significant differences, and in the cases we do, the estimates reveal a more beneficial outcome for women. Hence, we conclude that capitalism does not seem to favor men more than women in terms of life satisfaction.
Subjects: 
Economic freedom
Capitalism
Market economy
Life satisfaction
Gender
Happiness
JEL: 
B52
D02
D63
F13
H11
I31
K20
K38
P16
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
503.31 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.