Beyond rational choice and needs gratification: the economics of happiness as human flourishing

• Jovi C. Dacanay ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Asia and the Pacific

     University of Asia and the Pacific

     City of Pasig, Filipinas

     
• Localización: II International Conference Familiy and Society / Rita Cavallotti Oldani (ed. lit.), Consuelo León Llorente (ed. lit.), 2015, ISBN 978-84-606-8395-7, págs. 51-81
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto Completo Libro
• Resumen

  • How can the economics discipline contribute to the achievement ofmutually beneficial exchanges, while at the same time make people happy? The results show that although happiness is explained by objective measurements of needs gratification, and, subjective variables describing social comparisons, appraisals and affective experience, persons evaluate their life based on information which allows them to satisfy physical and social needs, they also have to be respected, have a social network and be able to participate in society. One’s evaluation of happiness is anchored on information which describes or captures life as a whole, and the results are consistent across countries regardless of socio-economic status. Life satisfaction may be evaluated from the angle of contentment for one’s current income situation, one’s level of needs gratification, and later on, one’s capacity to act freely, have friends, be with loved ones, associate with colleagues. But a more consistent, stable and enduring evaluation of happiness would persist from an integral notion of one’s and the other’s personhood, through other-regarding behavior, whichcan only be achieved and stabilized with time.