What makes people in Scotland happy? Is it where they live?

Davies, Sara and Dunlop, Stewart and Swales, Kim (2016) What makes people in Scotland happy? Is it where they live? Fraser of Allander Economic Commentary, 39 (3). pp. 80-100. ISSN 2046-5378

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    Abstract

    Orkney has been named the best place to live in Scotland for the third year in a row according to the 2015 Bank of Scotland Quality of Life Survey…. rural areas scored consistently across a range of categories covering health and life expectancy, personal well-being and a low crime rate. Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city and the most densely populated area of the country, was ranked lowest. (Scotsman, 18th December, 2015). This paper examines three questions. First, it examines the question of what makes people in Scotland “happy”, by investigating the factors that affect this in Scotland. There is now a well-established body of academic work on happiness, but this is the first time this type of analysis has been conducted for Scotland. Second, in light of recent policy developments, particularly the notion of a Northern Powerhouse, it focuses on happiness in Scottish cities versus other areas. Finally, it tests the NEG account of spatial development by examining whether happiness is equalised across different types of area. The results show that cities are locations with low life satisfaction scores.

    Creators(s): Davies, Sara ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3872-7630, Dunlop, Stewart ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5729-9299 and Swales, Kim;
    Item type:Article
    ID code:55905
    Keywords:Scottish population, Scottish economics, quality of life, Economic Theory, Economics, Econometrics and Finance(all)
    Subjects:Social Sciences > Economic Theory
    Department:Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) > School of Government and Public Policy > European Policies Research Centre
    Strathclyde Business School > Fraser of Allander Institute
    Strathclyde Business School > Economics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:15 Mar 2016 15:07
    Last modified:14 May 2020 01:07
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/55905
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