Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Robert MacCulloch
Author-X-Name-First: Robert
Author-X-Name-Last: MacCulloch
Author-Email: r.macculloch@auckland.ac.nz
Author-Workplace-Name: University of Auckland
Title: Can “happiness data” help evaluate economic policies?
Abstract: Imagine a government confronted with a controversial policy question, like whether it should cut the level of unemployment benefits. Will social welfare rise as a result? Will some groups be winners and other groups be losers? Will the welfare gap between the employed and unemployed increase? “Happiness data” offer a new way to make these kinds of evaluations. These data allow us to track the well-being of the whole population, and also sub-groups like the employed and unemployed people, and correlate the results with relevant policy changes.
Length: 16 pages
Creation-Date:  2016-02
File-URL: https://motu-www.motu.org.nz/wpapers/16_02.pdf
Number: 16_02
Classification-JEL: P16, E62
Keywords: wellbeing, happiness data, unemployment benefit policy
Handle: RePEc:mtu:wpaper:16_02