6533b857fe1ef96bd12b50b8
RESEARCH PRODUCT
More Choice for Better Choosers: Political Freedom, Autonomy, and Happiness
Peter MillerDario Maimone Ansaldo PattiSebastiano BavettaPietro Navarrasubject
Sociology and Political ScienceWorld Values Survey comparative public opinion political freedom personal autonomy happinessmedia_common.quotation_subject05 social sciencesPersonal autonomyPolitical freedom0506 political science0502 economics and business050602 political science & public administrationHappinessWorld Values SurveySociology050207 economicsSet (psychology)Settore SECS-P/01 - Economia PoliticaSocial psychologyAutonomymedia_commondescription
A substantial literature finds that freedom in the sense of an expanded opportunity set is positively related to happiness. A contrasting literature, however, finds that an excess of choice can have socially undesirable outcomes. We test the effect of two types of freedom—autonomy and political—on happiness using five waves of World Values Survey data (1981–2008). We find evidence supporting the claim that equipping people with the tools to direct the course of their lives (i.e. increasing autonomy freedom) incentivizes the desire to investigate alternatives (e.g. political parties) before making a decision. The effect of freedoms on happiness is diminished in contexts where individuals have less experience with evaluating alternatives, such as in authoritarian or transitional countries.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-07-15 |