Cited by 3,177Psychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionQuality of Life MeasurementEconomic and Environmental Valuation

Developments in the Measurement of Subjective Well-Being

Kahneman, Daniel, Krueger, Alan B·2006·Journal of Economic Perspectives

Abstract

Direct reports of subjective well-being may have a useful role in the measurement of consumer preferences and social welfare, if they can be done in a credible way. Can well-being be measured by a subjective survey, even approximately? In this paper, we discuss research on how individuals' responses to subjective well-being questions vary with their circumstances and other factors. We will argue that it is fruitful to distinguish among different conceptions of utility rather than presume to measure a single, unifying concept that motivates all human choices and registers all relevant feelings and experiences. While various measures of well-being are useful for some purposes, it is important to recognize that subjective well-being measures features of individuals' perceptions of their experiences, not their utility as economists typically conceive of it. Those perceptions are a more accurate gauge of actual feelings if they are reported closer to the time of, and in direct reference to, the actual experience. We conclude by proposing the U-index, a misery index of sorts, which measures the proportion of time that people spend in an unpleasant state, and has the virtue of not requiring a cardinal conception of individuals' feelings.

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Authors
Kahneman, D., & Krueger, A. B.
Affiliations
Princeton University (US)
Venue
Journal of Economic Perspectives
Published
2006-02-01
Volume
20
Issue
1
Pages
3-24
ISSN
0895-3309 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2148112990
Cited by
3,177
References
76
Citations by year
2026: 96 · 2025: 128 · 2024: 149 · 2023: 160 · 2022: 175 · 2021: 187 · 2020: 188 · 2019: 182 · 2018: 148 · 2017: 146 · 2016: 234 · 2015: 225 · 2014: 205 · 2013: 199 · 2012: 179
FWCI
130.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journal of Economic Perspectives (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Quality of Life Measurement
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Economic and Environmental Valuation
Keywords
subjective well-being, well-being measurement, self-reported happiness, social welfare measurement, consumer preferences, misery index

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