International Journal of Social Science & Economic Research
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Title:
WHAT DETERMINES LIFE SATISFACTION INEQUALITY? EVIDENCE FROM INDIA

Authors:
Maya K., Neeraj Kumar

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1Maya K., 2Neeraj Kumar
1. Research Scholar, Department of Econometrics, University of Madras, Chennai - 600005
2. Sr. Research Fellow, Livestock Economics, Statistics & IT Div., ICAR-IVRI, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh

MLA 8
K., Maya, and Neeraj Kumar. "WHAT DETERMINES LIFE SATISFACTION INEQUALITY? EVIDENCE FROM INDIA." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 4, no. 8, Aug. 2019, pp. 5420-5443, ijsser.org/more2019.php?id=414. Accessed Aug. 2019.
APA
K., M., & Kumar, N. (2019, August). WHAT DETERMINES LIFE SATISFACTION INEQUALITY? EVIDENCE FROM INDIA. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 4(8), 5420-5443. Retrieved from ijsser.org/more2019.php?id=414
Chicago
K., Maya, and Neeraj Kumar. "WHAT DETERMINES LIFE SATISFACTION INEQUALITY? EVIDENCE FROM INDIA." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 4, no. 8 (August 2019), 5420-5443. Accessed August, 2019. ijsser.org/more2019.php?id=414.

References

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Abstract:
This paper examines the determinants of life satisfaction inequality in India using World Value Survey data. By estimating recentered Influence Function regressions and Decomposition strategy, we find that household income does not have a significant impact on life satisfaction inequality, as observed in other developed countries. However, there is a small impact for income inequality variable on increasing life satisfaction inequality in India. Similarly people perception of their relative standing in terms of their income distribution is also not affecting life satisfaction inequality in India. Moreover, the regression result and decomposition method present that non-pecuniary factors are the major drivers of happiness inequality or life satisfaction inequality like marital status, education, health conditions, employment status etc than that of economic variables like income, relative income etc are concerned. Additionally, under decomposition result, being employed is significantly associated with the widening of life satisfaction inequality. This finding is more consistent with the current labor market issues in India like, share or informal and irregular jobs, which tend to be insecure and low paid and other than that, lack of competitive skills, involuntary unemployment etc.

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