This article examines what can be the contribution of Sociology to the 'new science of happiness', and what can such happiness studies contribute to Sociology? It does so by presenting the example of a quantitative analysis of European Social Survey data for the UK on social capital and life...

Across the globe there is growing skepticism about the usefulness of GDP as a measure of national well-being. Consequently, several alternative quality-of-life (QOL) measures were developed which either aim at healing the GDP, complementing it, or replacing it. This chapter portrays some of...

This article seeks to combine decades of academic research with emerging policy demands by systematically assessing the state of the knowledge on using subjective indicators in public policy. In particular, it outlines opportunities that arise from a new focus on subjective information as a...

With the Day Reconstruction Method (DRM), Kahneman, Krueger, Schkade, Schwarz, and Stone (2004) introduced an important approach in subjective well-being (SWB) research to explore how people experience daily activities. A major unresolved question for laypeople and scholars alike resulting from...

Der Diskurs über die Neuvermessung von Fortschritt und Wohlergehen gewinnt international zunehmend an Bedeutung. Globale Anstrengungen haben das Potenzial, einen Paradigmenwechsel herbeizuführen, der beeinflusst, wie wir Fortschritt definieren und folglich unser Zusammenleben gestalten. Anhand...

A vast literature has recently emerged on subjective well-being (SWB) examining the determinants of happiness and life satisfaction, particularly in Psychology and Economics. The research area has become very influential in the policy world, as governments are becoming increasingly keen to...