幸福悖论及其最新解释

Happiness-income paradox and the latest explanation

横断研究认为收入和幸福感正相关;长时时间序列(通常指10年及以上)研究认为二者无关,这种矛盾的结论即构成了幸福悖论。传统上解释幸福悖论主要从理论着手,如定点理论、适应理论、相对效用理论等。近年来,学者们开始从"忽略变量"的角度解释,文章分别介绍了收入不平等、受教育水平、社会资本、个人主义–集体主义、婚姻状态五种忽略变量。忽略变量对幸福感的消极效应抵消了收入对幸福感的积极效应,导致了幸福悖论现象的发生。

The cross-sectional studies show a positive relationship between income and happiness whereas the long-term series studies--usually a period of 10 years or more--show there is a nil relationship between them, which is the so-called happiness-income paradox. Previous studies usually explain the happiness- income paradox from the perspective of theory such as Set-Point Theory, Adaptation Theory, or Relative Utility Theory. Recently, researchers have paid much concern to the omitted variables. Five types of omitted variables, including income inequality, education, social capital, individualism-collectivism and marital status, are introduced in this article to interpret the phenomenon. The negative effects of omitted variables on happiness offset the positive effect of income, which leads to an occurrence of happiness-income paradox.