Arbeitspapier

Early-Life Correlates of Later-Life Well-Being: Evidence from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study

We here use data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) to provide one of the first analyses of the distal (early-life) and proximal (later-life) correlates of older-life subjective well-being. Unusually, we have two distinct measures of the latter: happiness and eudaimonia. Even after controlling for proximal covariates, outcomes at age 18 (IQ score, parental income and parental education) remain good predictors of well-being over 50 years later. In terms of the proximal covariates, mental health and social participation are the strongest predictors of both measures of well-being in older age. However, there are notable differences in the other correlates of happiness and eudaimonia. As such, well-being policy will depend to an extent on which measure is preferred.

Language
Englisch

Bibliographic citation
Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 11135

Classification
Wirtschaft
General Welfare; Well-Being
Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty: Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
Subject
health
eudaimonia
well-being
life-course
happiness

Event
Geistige Schöpfung
(who)
Clark, Andrew E.
Lee, Tom
Event
Veröffentlichung
(who)
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
(where)
Bonn
(when)
2017

Handle
Last update
20.09.2024, 8:21 AM CEST

Data provider

This object is provided by:
ZBW - Deutsche Zentralbibliothek für Wirtschaftswissenschaften - Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft. If you have any questions about the object, please contact the data provider.

Object type

  • Arbeitspapier

Associated

  • Clark, Andrew E.
  • Lee, Tom
  • Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Time of origin

  • 2017

Other Objects (12)