Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Happiness-Income Paradox: A Cross Sectional Analysis, Samantha Sczepanski

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper presents an empirical analysis of how income, education and healthcare affect overall happiness in a country. By using data found through the world happiness report, Statista and the world population review, I was able to analyze the relationship between these three variables and the overall happiness index from 100 counties. The results showed that while all three variables have a positive relationship with the happiness index, mean income had the strongest relationship. I was also able to explore potential other variables that could have an effect which were cost of higher education, percentage of population with secondary or …