Income Improves Subjective Well-being: Evidence from South Africa

The influx of asylum-seekers and refugees from across Africa into democratic South Africa has increased significantly. The aim of this paper is to determine the factors that influences the expect well-being of this unique group. Expected well-being is an important determinant of both the decision to migrate and the choice of a country of destination. Knowledge about this determinant therefore informs refugee policies. The results show that only a few of the factors found in the literature explaining the expected well-being of voluntary migrants also explain the expected well-being of forced migrants. However, a number of factors found in the literature that explain the subjective well-being and well-being in general of refugees and asylum-seekers also went towards explaining the expected well-being of this group. These factors include: government assistance, culture, the time spent in South Africa, economic factors, crime, refugee status, reasons for leaving the home countries and the number of people staying in a house in the receiving country. The findings of this study emphasise the differences between forced and voluntary migrants and highlight the factors that influence the expected well-being of forced migrants. These in turn shed light on migration decisions and the choice of destination countries.

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Subjective well-being impact of old age pension in South Africa: A difference in difference analysis across the gender divide

South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences ◽

10.4102/sajems.v22i1.2996 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Umakrishnan Kollamparambil ◽

Mfongeh N. Etinzock

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Old Age ◽

Well Being ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Difference In Difference ◽

Difference Analysis ◽

Gender Divide

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Relative Standing and Subjective Well-Being in South Africa: The Role of Perceptions, Expectations and Income Mobility

Social Indicators Research ◽

10.1007/s11205-010-9740-2 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 104 (2) ◽

pp. 195-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Dorrit Ruth Posel ◽

Daniela Maria Casale

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Well Being ◽

Income Mobility ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Relative Standing

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Children’s Subjective Well-being: Multi-Group Analysis Among a Sample of Children from Two Socio-Economic Status Groups in the Western Cape, South Africa

Child Indicators Research ◽

10.1007/s12187-016-9392-0 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 473-488 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Shazly Savahl ◽

Ferran Casas ◽

Sabirah Adams

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Economic Status ◽

Group Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Western Cape ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Socio Economic Status

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Person-environment fit, flourishing and intention to leave in universities of technology in South Africa

SA Journal of Industrial Psychology ◽

10.4102/sajip.v43i0.1422 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 43 (0) ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Christine Janse van Rensburg ◽

Sebastiaan I. Rothmann ◽

Elsabe Diedericks

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Intention To Leave ◽

Well Being ◽

Emotional Engagement ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Person Environment Fit

Orientation: Retaining staff is vital to ensure that universities accomplish their missions. To optimise the potential of staff members and retain staff, it is necessary to study their flourishing and fit in their jobs and organisations.Research purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between person-environment fit, flourishing at work and intention to leave.Motivation for the study: Research is needed to validate a measure of flourishing at work. Outcome variables such as intention to leave have not been studied in relation to flourishing at work. Moreover, it is necessary to study antecedents of flourishing at work, such as person-environment fit.Research approach, design and method: A cross-sectional survey design was used with a convenience sample of 339 academic employees from three universities of technology in South Africa. Three perceived fit scales, the Flourishing-at-Work Scale (FAWS) and the Turnover Intention Scale were administered.Main findings: Findings supported a three-factor model of flourishing at work, consisting of emotional, psychological and social well-being. The highest mean frequencies on flourishing dimensions were obtained for competence and emotional engagement. The lowest mean frequencies were obtained for relatedness and social well-being. Person-environment fit predicted intention to leave, both directly and indirectly, via flourishing. The findings support the internal consistency and validity of the FAWS.Practical/managerial implications: Managers and human resource practitioners should consider the use of a multidimensional measure to assess flourishing at work. Considering certain dimensions of well-being at work (e.g. work engagement and competence of employees) without considering other dimensions (e.g. job satisfaction, affect balance and meaning at work) will not be sufficient to assess and promote the subjective well-being of employees.Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to knowledge regarding the reliability and validity of a measure of flourishing at work. It confirms that person-environment fit has a strong positive effect on flourishing of employees and a strong negative effect on their intentions to leave.

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Internet access and its relationship to subjective well-being in a developing region

South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences ◽

10.4102/sajems.v21i1.1841 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Talita Greyling

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

National Level ◽

Age Groups ◽

Internet Access ◽

Well Being ◽

Least Square ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

The South ◽

Data Set ◽

Developing Region

Internet access has been shown to play an important developmental role and Internet access to all people has become an international goal. This is also true for South Africa where the ‘South Africa Connect’ policy was introduced in 2013. The question arises whether Internet access goes beyond meeting developmental goals to improving the subjective well-being of people. Furthermore, if the association between Internet access and subjective well-being vary between different race and age groups. Previous research was performed in developed countries at a national level or for specific small subsamples, like the elderly; however, this study contributes to the literature by analysing a substantial sample, at sub-national level, in a heterogeneous, unequal society, in a developing country. The benefit is that heterogeneities masked in studies at a national, macro level are highlighted in a study at a sub-national, micro level. This article investigated the relationship between subjective well-being and Internet access within a developing region with a heterogeneous, unequal society. The article used a data set representative of the Gauteng population, the economic centre of South Africa, which was collected in 2013 by the Gauteng City Region Observatory. To analyse the data, ordered probit, ordinary least square and instrumental variable regression techniques were used. The results show that Internet access is positively related to subjective well-being and this relationship holds across all race groups and all age groups, from 18 years to over 65 years of age. In addition, it seems that the stark inequalities between race groups present in South Africa are fading among younger generations. Based on the results, the ‘South Africa Connect’ policy, which aims to give Internet access to all people, including those in Gauteng, the region analysed, is supported, as it not only contributes to the development of the region but also to the life satisfaction of the citizens.

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