Capability and Happiness: Conceptual difference and reality links

R Veenhoven

doi:10.1016/j.socec.2009.11.007

Capability and Happiness: Conceptual difference and reality links

R Veenhoven

Sociology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

55 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

CAPABILITY AND HAPPINESS: CONCEPTUAL DIFFERENCES AND REALITY LINKS Happiness is not the same as capability, but the matters are related. Capability is obviously required for living a happy life and happiness feeds back on capability in several ways. Capabilities affect happiness not only at the individual level, but also indirectly at the societal level. For instance: school education does not seem to make pupils any happier, but a high level of education is required for modern society that does add to happiness. Insight in the interrelations between capability and happiness is required for making policy choices. If the prime aim is greater happiness for a greater number, one must know what capabilities are most functional for happiness in the given conditions. If the cultivation of capabilities is prioritized, one must at least acknowledge the possible loss of happiness. Inspection of the available data does not reveal much conflict

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	344-350
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of Socio-economics
Volume	39
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2009.11.007
Publication status	Published - 2010

Bibliographical note

Key words: Capability, Happiness, Life-chances, Cross-national, Longitudinal, Research synthesis

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10.1016/j.socec.2009.11.007

http://hdl.handle.net/1765/22137

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abstract = "CAPABILITY AND HAPPINESS: CONCEPTUAL DIFFERENCES AND REALITY LINKS Happiness is not the same as capability, but the matters are related. Capability is obviously required for living a happy life and happiness feeds back on capability in several ways. Capabilities affect happiness not only at the individual level, but also indirectly at the societal level. For instance: school education does not seem to make pupils any happier, but a high level of education is required for modern society that does add to happiness. Insight in the interrelations between capability and happiness is required for making policy choices. If the prime aim is greater happiness for a greater number, one must know what capabilities are most functional for happiness in the given conditions. If the cultivation of capabilities is prioritized, one must at least acknowledge the possible loss of happiness. Inspection of the available data does not reveal much conflict",

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AB - CAPABILITY AND HAPPINESS: CONCEPTUAL DIFFERENCES AND REALITY LINKS Happiness is not the same as capability, but the matters are related. Capability is obviously required for living a happy life and happiness feeds back on capability in several ways. Capabilities affect happiness not only at the individual level, but also indirectly at the societal level. For instance: school education does not seem to make pupils any happier, but a high level of education is required for modern society that does add to happiness. Insight in the interrelations between capability and happiness is required for making policy choices. If the prime aim is greater happiness for a greater number, one must know what capabilities are most functional for happiness in the given conditions. If the cultivation of capabilities is prioritized, one must at least acknowledge the possible loss of happiness. Inspection of the available data does not reveal much conflict

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DO - 10.1016/j.socec.2009.11.007

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JO - Journal of Socio-economics

JF - Journal of Socio-economics

ER -

Capability and Happiness: Conceptual difference and reality links

Abstract

Bibliographical note

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