ABSTRACT

This paper empirically explores processes of adaptation and social comparison advanced in the “hedonic treadmill” explanation for the income-happiness paradox, as well as advances recent theories that point to the roles of poverty, inequality, and connectedness in aspirations behaviour. Subjective well-being and aspirations are measured using the South African Social Attitudes Study of 2006, a year characterised by a peak in post-apartheid economic growth and inequality. Inequality and connectedness are found to play decisive roles in experiences of social comparison and relative deprivation. Income growth paths that contribute to higher inequality and/or lower connectedness are related to narrower aspirations gaps and aspirations failure amongst the objectively poor, whilst also widening the aspirations gaps of those engaged in upward social comparisons. Conversely, inequality tied to greater connectedness inspires aspirations, although not beyond a level that could potentially frustrate. This has implications for subjective well-being, indicated to decrease significantly with aspirations gaps.

摘要

本文实证探讨了“享乐跑步机”解释收入幸福悖论的适应和社会比较过程，以及指出贫困、不平等和联系在愿望行为中的作用的最新理论。主观幸福感和愿望是使用 2006 年南非社会态度研究来衡量的，这一年的特点是种族隔离后经济增长和不平等现象达到顶峰。发现不平等和联系在社会比较和相对剥夺的经历中起着决定性的作用。导致更高不平等和/或更低连通性的收入增长路径与客观贫困人口的愿望差距缩小和愿望失败有关，同时也扩大了那些从事向上社会比较的人的愿望差距。相反，与更大的联系相关的不平等会激发人们的抱负，尽管并未超出可能令人沮丧的程度。这对主观幸福感有影响，表明随着愿望的差距显着降低。