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The Economics of Happiness

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The Happiness Riddle and the Quest for a Good Life
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Abstract

Cieslik discusses the development of modern economics and its interest in the good life and happiness. For much of the modern era economics has employed crude models of people and societies to understand the factors correlated with wellbeing. However these neglect the role of social and historical context as well as power relationships and emotions in how people experience happiness. These sorts of models and large surveys can only offer partial accounts of how happiness functions. The emergence of behavioural economics in recent decades has been one attempt by economists to develop a more sophisticated approach to the analysis of happiness.

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Cieslik, M. (2017). The Economics of Happiness. In: The Happiness Riddle and the Quest for a Good Life. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-31882-4_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-31882-4_3

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-230-28303-9

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