%0 Report
        %A Cheng, Terence Chai
%A Powdthavee, Nattavudh
%A Oswald, Andrew J.
        %T Longitudinal Evidence for a Midlife Nadir in Human Well-being: Results from Four Data Sets
        %D 2014
        %8 2014 Feb
        %I Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        %C Bonn
        %7 IZA Discussion Paper
        %N 7942
        %U https://www.iza.org/publications/dp7942
        %X There is a large amount of cross-sectional evidence for a midlife low in the life cycle of human happiness and well-being (a 'U shape'). Yet no genuinely longitudinal inquiry has uncovered evidence for a U-shaped pattern. Thus some researchers believe the U is a statistical artefact. We re-examine this fundamental cross-disciplinary question. We suggest a new test. Drawing on four data sets, and only within-person changes in well-being, we document powerful support for a U-shape in unadjusted longitudinal data without the need for regression equations. The paper's methodological contribution is to exploit the first-derivative properties of a well-being equation.
        %K longitudinal study
%K subjective well-being
%K life-cycle happiness
%K U shape