Average Happiness and Dominant Family Type in Regions in Western Europe around 2000
ABSTRACT
Research on the relation between family and happiness has focused on the micro level and considered the effects of an individual’s place in the family system, such as whether or not one is married and exchange of support with kin. Macro level differences in the family system as such have received little attention as yet. In this paper we consider regional differences in family types in Europe and explore the relationship with average happiness. Data on dominant family type in regions are taken from Todd (1990), who distinguishes five family types: 1) absolute nuclear; 2) egalitarian nuclear; 3) communitarian; 4) stem family; and 5) incomplete stem family. Data on average happiness in regions are taken from the Eurobarometer surveys. Average happiness appears to be highest in regions where family pattern of “absolute nuclear” prevails and lowest in the regions where “egalitarian nuclear” family dominates. Control for economic prosperity in regions does not change this picture. A possible interpretation of these findings is that freedom adds more to happiness than equality does. It is not true for types of freedom. If horizontal freedom (intragenerational freedom) seems to be important in terms of well-being, the results are much less convincing as far as vertical freedom (intergenerational freedom) is concerned. The findings might have some far reach contribution in the field of family policy.
Research on the relation between family and happiness has focused on the micro level and considered the effects of an individual’s place in the family system, such as whether or not one is married and exchange of support with kin. Macro level differences in the family system as such have received little attention as yet. In this paper we consider regional differences in family types in Europe and explore the relationship with average happiness. Data on dominant family type in regions are taken from Todd (1990), who distinguishes five family types: 1) absolute nuclear; 2) egalitarian nuclear; 3) communitarian; 4) stem family; and 5) incomplete stem family. Data on average happiness in regions are taken from the Eurobarometer surveys. Average happiness appears to be highest in regions where family pattern of “absolute nuclear” prevails and lowest in the regions where “egalitarian nuclear” family dominates. Control for economic prosperity in regions does not change this picture. A possible interpretation of these findings is that freedom adds more to happiness than equality does. It is not true for types of freedom. If horizontal freedom (intragenerational freedom) seems to be important in terms of well-being, the results are much less convincing as far as vertical freedom (intergenerational freedom) is concerned. The findings might have some far reach contribution in the field of family policy.
KEYWORDS
Family Type, Happiness, Life Satisfaction, Stem Family, Nuclear Family, Communitarian Family
Family Type, Happiness, Life Satisfaction, Stem Family, Nuclear Family, Communitarian Family
Cite this paper
Brulé, G. and Veenhoven, R. (2014) Average Happiness and Dominant Family Type in Regions in Western Europe around 2000. Advances in Applied Sociology, 4, 271-288. doi: 10.4236/aasoci.2014.412031.
Brulé, G. and Veenhoven, R. (2014) Average Happiness and Dominant Family Type in Regions in Western Europe around 2000. Advances in Applied Sociology, 4, 271-288. doi: 10.4236/aasoci.2014.412031.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2007.07.008 [4] Brulé, G., & Veenhoven, R. (2012a). Why Are Latin Europeans Less Happy? The Impact of Social Hierarchy. In M. Canevacci (Ed.), Polyphonic Anthropology: Theoretical and Empirical Cross-Cultural Fieldwork, Rijeka: Intech.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1944-8287.2008.01002.x [9] Durkheim, E. (1897). Le suicide. étude de sociologie. Paris: Felix alcan. [10] Frey, B., & Stutzer, A. (2002). Happiness and Economics. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. [11] Gross, R., & McIlveen, R. (1998). Psychology: A New Introduction. London: Hodder and Stoughton. [12] Hamplova, D. (2006). Satisfaction with Life, Happiness, and Family Status in Twenty-One European Countries. Sociologicky Casopis-Czech Sociological Review, 42, 35-55. [13] Inglehart, R. (1977). Values, Objective Needs, and Subjective Satisfaction among Western Publics. Comparative Political Studies, 9, 429-458. [14] Inglehart, R., & Klingemann, H. D. (2000). Genes, Culture, Democracy, and Happiness. Culture and Subjective Well-Being, 165-183. [15] Layard, R. (2005). Happiness: Lessons from a New Science. London: Penguin Books. [16] Le Play, F. (1871). L’organisation de la famille (The Organisation of the Family). Whitefish, MT: Kessinger Publishing. [17] Morrison, P. (2007). Subjective Well-Being and the City. Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, 31, 74-103. [18] Merton, R. K. (1949). Social Culture and Social Structure. New York City: Macillan. [19] Okulicz-Kozaryn, A. (2010). Geography of European Life Satisfaction. Social Indicators Research, 101, 435-445. [20] Oishi, S., Kesebir, S., & DIener, E. (2011). Income Inequality and Happiness. Psychological Science, 22, 1095-1100.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956797611417262 [21] Oswald, A., & Wu, S. (2009). Well-Being across America: Evidence from a Random Sample of One Million U.S. Citizens. University of Warwick Working Paper.
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/staff/academic/oswald/oswaldwuwellbeing2009.pdf [22] Ott, J. C. (2010). Good Governance and Happiness in Nations: Technical Quality Precedes Democracy and Quality Beats Size. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 353-368.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9144-7 [23] Rampichini, C., & Schifini D’Andrea, S. (1998). A Hierarchical Ordinal Probit Model for the Analysis of Life Satisfaction in Italy. Social Indicators Research, 44, 41-69.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006888613727 [24] Raschke, H. (1977). Family Structure, Family Happiness and Their Effect on College Students’ Personal and Social Adjustement. Family Court Review, 15, 30-33. [25] Sagart, L., Todd, E., & Little, B. (1992). Hypothesis on the Origins of the Communal Family System. Diogenes, 40, 145-182.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/039219219204016009 [26] Schyns, P. (1998). Crossnational Differences in Happiness: Economic and Cultural Factors Explored. Social Indicators Research, 43, 3-26.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006814424293 [27] Schwartz, S. H. (1999). Cultural Value Differences: Some Implications for Work. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 48, 23-48.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022022102033002005 [30] Stanca, L. (2010). The Geography of Economics and Happiness: Spatial Patterns in the Effects of Economic Conditions on Well-Being. Social Indicators Research, 99, 115-133.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11205-009-9571-1 [31] Todd, E. (1990). L’invention de l’Europe (The Invention of Europe). Paris: Seuil. [32] Todd, E. (2011). L’origine des systèmes familiaux-Tome 1: L’Eurasie (The Origin of Family Systems-Tome 1: Eurasia). Paris: Seuil. [33] Veenhoven, R. (1984). Conditions of Happiness. Dordrecht: Springer.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6432-7 [34] Veenhoven, R. (2010). Greater Happiness for a Greater Number: Is that Possible and Desirable? Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 605-629.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10902-010-9204-z [35] Veenhoven, R. (2011). World Database of Happiness: Example of a Focussed Findings Archive. Working Paper No. 169, German Data Forum RatSWD. [36] Veenhoven, R. (2012a). Bibliography of Happiness. World Database of Happiness, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
http://worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl/hap_bib/bib_fp.php [37] Veenhoven, R. (2012b). Happiness in Nations. World Database of Happiness, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
http://worlddatababaseofhappiness.eur.nl/hap_nat/nat_fp.php [38] Veenhoven, R. (2012c). Findings on Happiness and Conditions on One’s Nation. World Database of Happiness, Erasmus university Rotterdam.
http://worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl/hap_cor/top_sub.php?code=N4 [39] Veenhoven, R. (2012d). Findings on Happiness and Region in Nation. World Database of Happiness, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
http://worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl/hap_cor/top_sub.php?code=N9 [40] Veenhoven, R. (2012e). Measures of Happiness. World Database of Happiness, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
http://worldedatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl/hap_quesr/hqi_fp.htm
[1] Barrington-Leigh, C. P. (2008). Weather as a Transient Influence on Survey-Reported Satisfaction with Life. Source MPRA Paper No. 25736, 2008, Munich. [2] Bjornskov, C., Dreher, A., & Fisher J. A. (2007). On Gender Inequality and Life-Satisfaction: Does Discrimination Matter? Discussion Paper 2007-07 University of Gallen, Department of Economics, Switzerland. [3] Brereton F., Clinch, J. P., & Ferreira, S. (2008). Happiness, Geography and the Environment. Ecological Economics, 65, 386-396.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2007.07.008 [4] Brulé, G., & Veenhoven, R. (2012a). Why Are Latin Europeans Less Happy? The Impact of Social Hierarchy. In M. Canevacci (Ed.), Polyphonic Anthropology: Theoretical and Empirical Cross-Cultural Fieldwork, Rijeka: Intech.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/38061 [5] Brulé, G., & Veenhoven, R. (2012b). Happiness and Freedom in Bations: Why Are the Finns Happier than the French? Submitted. [6] Brulé, G., & Veenhoven, R. (2012c). Democratic Teaching and Happiness in Developed Nations. Submitted. [7] Clark, A. E. (2003). Inequality-Aversion and Income Mobility: A Direct Test. DELTA Working Paper, 2003-11. [8] Duranton, G., Rodríguez-Pose, A., & Sandall, R. (2009). Family Types and the Persistence of Regional Disparities in Europe. Economic geography, 85, 23-47.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1944-8287.2008.01002.x [9] Durkheim, E. (1897). Le suicide. étude de sociologie. Paris: Felix alcan. [10] Frey, B., & Stutzer, A. (2002). Happiness and Economics. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. [11] Gross, R., & McIlveen, R. (1998). Psychology: A New Introduction. London: Hodder and Stoughton. [12] Hamplova, D. (2006). Satisfaction with Life, Happiness, and Family Status in Twenty-One European Countries. Sociologicky Casopis-Czech Sociological Review, 42, 35-55. [13] Inglehart, R. (1977). Values, Objective Needs, and Subjective Satisfaction among Western Publics. Comparative Political Studies, 9, 429-458. [14] Inglehart, R., & Klingemann, H. D. (2000). Genes, Culture, Democracy, and Happiness. Culture and Subjective Well-Being, 165-183. [15] Layard, R. (2005). Happiness: Lessons from a New Science. London: Penguin Books. [16] Le Play, F. (1871). L’organisation de la famille (The Organisation of the Family). Whitefish, MT: Kessinger Publishing. [17] Morrison, P. (2007). Subjective Well-Being and the City. Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, 31, 74-103. [18] Merton, R. K. (1949). Social Culture and Social Structure. New York City: Macillan. [19] Okulicz-Kozaryn, A. (2010). Geography of European Life Satisfaction. Social Indicators Research, 101, 435-445. [20] Oishi, S., Kesebir, S., & DIener, E. (2011). Income Inequality and Happiness. Psychological Science, 22, 1095-1100.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956797611417262 [21] Oswald, A., & Wu, S. (2009). Well-Being across America: Evidence from a Random Sample of One Million U.S. Citizens. University of Warwick Working Paper.
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/staff/academic/oswald/oswaldwuwellbeing2009.pdf [22] Ott, J. C. (2010). Good Governance and Happiness in Nations: Technical Quality Precedes Democracy and Quality Beats Size. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 353-368.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9144-7 [23] Rampichini, C., & Schifini D’Andrea, S. (1998). A Hierarchical Ordinal Probit Model for the Analysis of Life Satisfaction in Italy. Social Indicators Research, 44, 41-69.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006888613727 [24] Raschke, H. (1977). Family Structure, Family Happiness and Their Effect on College Students’ Personal and Social Adjustement. Family Court Review, 15, 30-33. [25] Sagart, L., Todd, E., & Little, B. (1992). Hypothesis on the Origins of the Communal Family System. Diogenes, 40, 145-182.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/039219219204016009 [26] Schyns, P. (1998). Crossnational Differences in Happiness: Economic and Cultural Factors Explored. Social Indicators Research, 43, 3-26.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006814424293 [27] Schwartz, S. H. (1999). Cultural Value Differences: Some Implications for Work. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 48, 23-48.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-0597.1999.tb00047.x [28] Senik, C. (2011). The French Unhappiness Puzzle: The Cultural Dimension of Happiness. Working Paper No 2011-34. [29] Smith, P., Peterson, M., & Schwartz, S. (2002). Cultural Values, Sources of Guidance, and Their Relevance to Managerial Behavior: A 47-Nation Study. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 33, 188-208.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022022102033002005 [30] Stanca, L. (2010). The Geography of Economics and Happiness: Spatial Patterns in the Effects of Economic Conditions on Well-Being. Social Indicators Research, 99, 115-133.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11205-009-9571-1 [31] Todd, E. (1990). L’invention de l’Europe (The Invention of Europe). Paris: Seuil. [32] Todd, E. (2011). L’origine des systèmes familiaux-Tome 1: L’Eurasie (The Origin of Family Systems-Tome 1: Eurasia). Paris: Seuil. [33] Veenhoven, R. (1984). Conditions of Happiness. Dordrecht: Springer.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6432-7 [34] Veenhoven, R. (2010). Greater Happiness for a Greater Number: Is that Possible and Desirable? Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 605-629.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10902-010-9204-z [35] Veenhoven, R. (2011). World Database of Happiness: Example of a Focussed Findings Archive. Working Paper No. 169, German Data Forum RatSWD. [36] Veenhoven, R. (2012a). Bibliography of Happiness. World Database of Happiness, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
http://worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl/hap_bib/bib_fp.php [37] Veenhoven, R. (2012b). Happiness in Nations. World Database of Happiness, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
http://worlddatababaseofhappiness.eur.nl/hap_nat/nat_fp.php [38] Veenhoven, R. (2012c). Findings on Happiness and Conditions on One’s Nation. World Database of Happiness, Erasmus university Rotterdam.
http://worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl/hap_cor/top_sub.php?code=N4 [39] Veenhoven, R. (2012d). Findings on Happiness and Region in Nation. World Database of Happiness, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
http://worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl/hap_cor/top_sub.php?code=N9 [40] Veenhoven, R. (2012e). Measures of Happiness. World Database of Happiness, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
http://worldedatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl/hap_quesr/hqi_fp.htm