Ambition and Jealousy: Income Interactions in the ‘Old’ Europe versus the ‘New’ Europe and the United States

C-Tier
Journal: Economica
Year: 2008
Volume: 75
Issue: 299
Pages: 495-513

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 0.5x C-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Using individual‐level data from a large number of countries, this paper examines how self‐reported subjective well‐being depends on own income and reference income, where reference income is defined as the income of one's professional peers. It uncovers a divide between ‘old’—low‐mobility—European countries on the one hand, and ‘new’ European post‐Transition countries and the United States on the other. The relative importance of comparisons (‘jealousy’) versus information (‘ambition’) seems to depend on the degree of mobility and uncertainty in the considered countries.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:econom:v:75:y:2008:i:299:p:495-513
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-29