TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Oswald, Andrew J.
AU  - Wu, Stephen
        TI  - Well-being across America
        PY  - 2009/Nov/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 4600
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/publications/dp4600
        AB  - This paper uses new Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data to provide the first estimates of well-being across the states of America. From this sample of 1.3 million US citizens, we analyze measures of life satisfaction and mental health. Adjusting for people's characteristics, states such as Louisiana and DC have high psychological well-being levels while California and West Virginia have low well-being; there is no correlation between states' well-being and their GDP per capita. Correcting for people's incomes, satisfaction with life is lowest in the rich states. We discuss implications for the arbitrage theory that regions provide equal utility and compensating differentials.
        KW  - depression
KW  - mental health
KW  - compensating differentials
KW  - BRFSS
KW  - geography
KW  - happiness
KW  - GHQ
KW  - Easterlin Paradox
KW  - life course
        ER  -