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Happiness Prospers in Democracy

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Abstract

An econometric analysis of a happiness function, based on a surveyof 6,000 persons in Switzerland, indicates that:

(1) the more developed the institutions of direct democracy, the happier the individuals are;

(2) people derive procedural utility from the possibility of participating in the direct democratic process over and above a more favorable political outcome;

(3) the unemployed are much less happy than the employed, independent of income;

(4) higher income is associated with higher levels of happiness.

The consideration of institutional differences in cross-regional data offers important new insights into happiness research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Empirical economic Research, University of Zurich, Blümlisalpstrasse 10, 8006, Zurich, Switzerland

    Bruno S. Frey

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  1. Bruno S. Frey
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  2. Alois Stutzer
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Frey, B.S., Stutzer, A. Happiness Prospers in Democracy. Journal of Happiness Studies 1, 79–102 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010028211269

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