A Modern Guide to the Economics of Happiness

Edited by Luigino Bruni, Professor of Political Economy, Department of Law, Economics, Politics and Modern languages, LUMSA University, Alessandra Smerilli, Professor of Economics, PFSE-Axilium University and Dalila De Rosa, Research Officer, Department of Finance, Ministry of Economics and Finance, Italy

Contents:

1 Happiness and wellbeing: past foundations, modern
evidence and future paths 1
Luigino Bruni, Dalila De Rosa and Alessandra Smerilli
2 What future happiness research? 17
Bruno Frey

PART I HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES
ON THE ECONOMICS OF HAPPINESS
3 Aristotle, eudaimonia, neuroscience and economics 29
Jeffrey Sachs
4 The economics of eudaimonia 46
Maurizio Pugno
5 Felicitas publica : the southern spirit of capitalism 67
Luigino Bruni
6 ‘Naturaliter homo homini amicus est’: economy, happiness and
relationships in Aquinas’ thought 95
Paolo Santori

PART II METHODS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS FOR
THE ECONOMICS OF HAPPINESS
7 Complexity and wellbeing: measurement and analysis 113
Filomena Maggino and Leonardo Salvatore Alaimo
8 Growth and happiness in China, 1990–2015 129
Richard A. Easterlin, Fei Wang and Shun Wang
9 Economic growth and well-being beyond the Easterlin paradox 162
Francesco Sarracino and Kelsey J. O’Connor

PART III EMPIRICAL APPLICATIONS IN THE
ECONOMICS OF HAPPINESS
10 The effect of physical activity on subjective well-being: the
case for exercise 190
Mario Lucchini, Egidio Riva and Luca Crivelli
11 Standing together: is family a resilience factor for subjective
wellbeing? 215
Dalila De Rosa and Matteo Rizzolli
12 Cooperatives and happiness: cross-country evidence on the
role of relational capital 243
Luigino Bruni, Dalila De Rosa and Giovanni Ferri
13 The relationship between migrant acceptance and wellbeing:
evidence
from the Gallup Migrant Acceptance Index 279
Neli Esipova, Julie Ray and Anita Pugliese

Index 305