This article explains the puzzle why subjective well-being (SBW) declined in Kazakhstan and increased in Kyrgyzstan from 2011 to 2018. It examined the predictors of the change in SWB in two Central Asian states over this period. We found that freedom of choice and financial satisfaction are powerful factors that predict the change in SWB in the two states. In addition, we observed that SWB has changed differently for various social groups. In Kazakhstan SWB has increased for financially satisfied people and it has diminished for the financially dissatisfied people. In Kyrgyzstan, for both groups we observe the increase in life satisfaction. These results show that even within one state the change in SWB might vary from one group to another. As such, scholars should disaggregate various factors to understand a more nuanced dynamics of life satisfaction over time. In addition, the differences in economic and political contexts are important.

本文解释了为什么从 2011 年到 2018 年主观幸福感 (SBW) 在哈萨克斯坦下降而在吉尔吉斯斯坦上升的谜团。它研究了这一时期两个中亚国家 SWB 变化的预测因素。我们发现选择自由度和财务满意度是预测这两个州 SWB 变化的有力因素。此外，我们观察到不同社会群体的主观幸福感发生了不同的变化。在哈萨克斯坦，财务满意的人的 SWB 增加了，而财务不满意的人的 SWB 减少了。在吉尔吉斯斯坦，我们观察到这两个群体的生活满意度都有所提高。这些结果表明，即使在一个州内，SWB 的变化也可能因一组而异。像这样，学者们应该分解各种因素，以了解生活满意度随时间变化的更细微变化。此外，经济和政治背景的差异也很重要。