scholarly journals Trust Buffers Against Reduced Life Satisfaction When Faced With Financial Crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jocelyne Clench-Aas ◽  
Ingrid Bergande ◽  
Ragnhild Bang Nes ◽  
Arne Holte
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
National Level ◽  
National Income ◽  
Political Trust ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Global Crisis ◽  
Country Level

Background: In light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its large economic consequences, we used a three-layer nested structural model (individual, community, and country), each with a corresponding measure of income, trust, and satisfaction, to assess change in their interrelationships following a global crisis; which, in this study, is the 2008/2009 financial crisis.Methods: With multilevel techniques, we analyzed data from two waves (2006 and 2012) of the European Social Survey (ESS) in 19 countries (weighted N = 73,636) grouped according to their levels of trust.Results: In high trust countries, personal life satisfaction (LS) was not related to personal, community, or national income before or after the crisis. In contrast, in low trust countries, LS was strongly related to all three forms of income, especially after the crisis. In all country groups, personal, social, and political trust moderated their respective effects of income on LS (“the buffer hypothesis”). Political trust moderated the effects of income more strongly in low trust countries. The moderating effect of political trust increased sharply after the crisis. After the crisis, national-level factors (e.g., political trust, national income) increased their importance for LS more than the factors at the local and individual levels. However, the relative importance of all the three forms of income to LS increased after the crisis, to the detriment of trust.Conclusion: Economic crises seem to influence personal LS less in high trust countries compared with low trust countries. Hence, high trust at a national level appears to buffer the negative impact of a financial crisis on personal satisfaction. Overall, the factors at the national level increased their impact during the financial crisis. When facing a global crisis, the actions taken by institutions at the country level may, thus, become even more important than those taken before the crisis.

scholarly journals Political Trust Influences the Relationship Between Income and Life Satisfaction in Europe: Differential Associations With Trust at National, Community, and Individual Level

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jocelyne Clench-Aas ◽  
Arne Holte
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
National Level ◽  
National Income ◽  
Political Trust ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Personal Life ◽  
Structural Level ◽  
The Social ◽  
Personal Community

Background: A high level of well-being is associated with personal, community and national income, as well as personal, social and political trust. How these measures relate to each other within and between countries and within and across structural levels of society is largely unknown. To study this, we propose a three-layer nested socio-structural model. Each layer (individual, community, country) contains a measure of income, trust and satisfaction.Method: With this model, we analyzed data from two waves of the European Social Survey (ESS, 2006, 2012) in 19 countries (N = 72,461; weighted N = 73,307) with multilevel techniques. Indicators were personal, community, and national income; personal, social and political trust; and personal life satisfaction, social and political satisfaction.Results: Personal life satisfaction was associated with all income and trust variables. Greatest effect on personal life satisfaction, came from the national level, including political trust and income. However, 2/3 of the variance in personal life satisfaction came from income, that is personal, community and national. Within each socio-structural level, satisfaction was associated with income, but significantly modified by trust. When income and trust at all three levels were included, there was a significant association of the national layer on the social layer, and of the social layer on the individual layer as to the income–personal life satisfaction relationship. Consistent with the “the buffer hypothesis,” all three forms of trust acted as a buffer against the effect of personal income on life satisfaction. Low-trust countries had strong income–personal life satisfaction associations and the moderating role of trust was also stronger. High- and medium-trust countries had no such associations. Likewise, direct associations between political and personal trust were much stronger in the low-trust countries.Conclusion: The model presented in this study provides authorities with a framework for policies that will improve the general well-being of their population. Trust and income strongly influence personal life satisfaction. Money is the most important. However, trust forcefully dampens the effect of income. Politicians who want to enhance their population's personal life satisfaction, should raise the levels of trust in their electorate.

The Association between Life Satisfaction and Self–Reported Health Status in Europe

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 647-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liisi Kööts–Ausmees ◽  
Anu Realo
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Multilevel Modelling ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Reported Health ◽  
Self Reported Health Status

Previous research has shown that life satisfaction (LS) and self–reported health status are strongly related to each other. However, it is not clear whether this association holds across different nations or whether certain country–level indicators significantly affect this association. The study was based on nationally representative samples of 32 countries from the first six rounds of the European Social Survey (N = 291 686). Results from hierarchical multilevel modelling indicated that there was a positive association between LS and self–reported health status across countries, but this association was slightly stronger in countries where governments spent less on the health care of their residents. Self–reported health ratings were also more strongly tied to LS judgements in countries where variability in LS ratings was larger. These results suggest that, especially in less wealthy European countries, policies should target reducing overall social inequality and the negative impact of governments’ underinvestment in health care on LS. Copyright © 2015 European Association of Personality Psychology

Trends of Development of International Trade in Goods in 1990–2008

2011 ◽  
pp. 36-47
Author(s):  
V. Sokolov
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Financial Crisis ◽  
North America ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Industrial Production ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Balance Of Payments ◽  
Global Crisis ◽  
The World

In today's world there are three centers of industrial production: Western Europe, North America and East Asia. These regions account for the lion's share of world exports of industrial products. The financial crisis of 2008-2009 exerted major negative impact on the growth of international trade in these products. The article examines the trade in certain branches of engineering products in 1990-2000, the influence of the global crisis on international trade, as well as the balance of payments problems of major countries and regions of the world.

scholarly journals National level wealth inequality and socioeconomic inequality in adolescent mental wellbeing

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Dierckens ◽  
D Weinberg ◽  
Y Huang ◽  
F Elgar ◽  
I Moor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Income Inequality ◽  
National Level ◽  
National Income ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Wealth Inequality ◽  
Socioeconomic Inequalities ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
National Wealth ◽  
Level Data

Abstract Background Previous research established a positive association between national income inequality and socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent health, but little is known about the extent to which national level inequalities in accumulated financial resources (i.e. wealth) are associated with these health inequalities. Therefore, we examined the association between national wealth inequality and income inequality and socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent mental wellbeing. Methods Data were from 17 countries participating in three successive waves (2010, 2014 and 2018) of the cross-sectional Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. We combined individual-level data on adolescents' life satisfaction, psychological and somatic symptoms and socioeconomic status (SES) with country-level data on income and wealth inequality (n = 244771). We performed time-series analysis on a pooled sample of 48 country/year groups. Results Higher levels of national wealth inequality were associated with fewer average psychological and somatic symptoms, while higher levels of national income inequality were associated with more psychological and somatic symptoms. No associations between either national wealth inequality or income inequality and life satisfaction were found. Smaller differences in somatic symptoms between higher and lower SES groups were found in countries with higher levels of national wealth inequality. In contrast, larger differences in psychological symptoms and life satisfaction (but not somatic symptoms) between higher and lower SES groups were found in countries with higher levels of national income inequality. Conclusions Although both national wealth and income inequality are associated with (socioeconomic inequalities in) adolescent mental wellbeing, associations are in opposite directions. Further research is warranted to gain better understanding in the role of national wealth inequality on (socioeconomic inequalities in) adolescent health. Key messages This is one of the first studies to examine if socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent mental wellbeing are associated with national wealth inequality independently from national income inequality. Opposing effects of national wealth inequality and income inequality on socioeconomic inequalities in adolescents’ mental wellbeing warrant further research before policy recommendations can be made.

scholarly journals Ecology and Happiness: how Air Pollution influences Happiness of the Population

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 55-69
Author(s):  
D. O. Solonina ◽  
K. E. Oshmarina ◽  
I. O. Karev
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Effective Policy ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Reduce Emissions ◽  
The Government

Recent decades have seen accelerating interest in key factors of happiness driven by patterns of modern life. While more and more often global communities appeal to wider audiences, highlighting the need to commit to achievement of major goals of sustainable development, elimination of negative footprint and raising the bar of living standards, people are paying more attention to the living conditions they find themselves in. The government is focused on life satisfaction to identify major areas for improvement and to develop effective policy measures. This paper aims to estimate how and to which extent unfavorable ecological situation, primarily low air quality, impact population well-being and happiness. Recent studies point out that environmental conditions considerably influence subjective life satisfaction of an individual. On these pages, we test the relation between air pollution and people’s happiness at country level. Our findings show significantly negative impact, which signals the need to reduce emissions and propose solutions to lower the level of air pollution.

Determinants of Savings in Urban and Rural Households: Case of South Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 151-168
Author(s):  
T. ZWANE
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
National Level ◽  
National Income ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Urban Sample ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
The Impact

Savings have been described as a significant fi nancial and economic matter and represent an essential driving force of economic growth and development. Despite this, many studies investigating the determinants of savings in South Africa have looked predominantly at the drivers of savings only at a national level, without focusing on urban and rural differences. This is critical as these localities are structurally different, with different characteristics. It is, therefore, likely that the determinants of savings in these unique geographical localities would differ, given the negative impact of past policies of marginalisation. The purpose of this paper is to examine the urban-rural disparities in savings for South African households. We used data sourced from the five waves of the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) observed from 2008-2017. The novelty of this study is in its application of a novel two-stage least square estimation technique which addresses possible endogeneity problems which might have plagued previous studies in this field. It was concluded from the research that the determinants of savings are different across samples (urban and rural). We found that having access to land is an important predictor of savings in rural areas where the poor live (positive and significant), but the coefficient is not significant in the urban sample. Although there was a positive correlation between income and savings across samples, but the income impact on savings is higher in absolute values for households residing in rural areas, compared to household living in urban areas. We also found that, despite the coefficient of employment being similar in the direction of the impact (positive and significant) across the samples, the magnitude of the coefficient was stronger in the rural sample. Based on the higher magnitude of the coefficient, we found that household size has more effect in urban than rural areas. The study recommends that government should design and implement policies that foster job creation, even low-skilled jobs, which will generate more income and reduce unemployment.

scholarly journals Is There a Link between Welfare Regime and Attitudes toward Climate Policy Instruments?

2021 ◽  
pp. 073112142199005
Author(s):  
Jukka Sivonen ◽  
Iida Kukkonen
Keyword(s):  
Climate Policy ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Political Trust ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Welfare Regime ◽  
Climate Politics ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Climate Policies ◽  
Policy Attitudes ◽  
The Relationship

We explore the relationship between welfare regime and climate policy attitudes. The synergy hypothesis suggests that social and environmental policies can reinforce each other. Thus, more universal and generous welfare state model (i.e., welfare regime) is said to provide especially fertile ground for advancing climate policies. Using multilevel modeling and European Social Survey Round 8 data (including 23 countries in Europe and Israel), we test whether this hypothesis applies at the attitudinal level. Moreover, we hypothesize that country-level political trust predicts support for climate policy instruments. The study focuses on three instruments: fossil fuel taxation, subsidizing renewable energy, and banning energy-inefficient household appliances. The results indicate that welfare regime is significantly related to attitudes toward taxation, but less significantly toward subsidizing and banning. Political trust predicted support for all instruments, but the effect was particularly strong for taxation. The results highlight the importance of welfare structures in climate politics.

scholarly journals Are Older Adults Perceived as A Threat to Society? Exploring Perceived Age-Based Threats in 29 Nations

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (7) ◽  
pp. 1256-1265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liat Ayalon
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Latent Profile Analysis ◽  
Profile Analysis ◽  
World View ◽  
National Level ◽  
Belief System ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Country Level

Abstract Objectives The present study adds to the current body of literature by simultaneously examining the public perception of young and old people as posing realistic threats (e.g., to the group’s power, resources, and welfare) and symbolic threats (e.g., to one’s world view, belief system and values). Methods The fourth wave of the European Social Survey was administered to individuals from 29 countries. Analysis is based on 56,170 individuals, who had data on the four relevant indicators. The study relied on a latent profile analysis to develop a typology of perceived realistic and symbolic threats to society by younger and older adults. Results A three-profile solution indicated that the perception of older and younger adults as threats to society often co-occurs. Sociodemographic characteristics at the individual-level and the Gini coefficient (e.g., an inequality indicator) at the country-level had differential associations with the profiles identified. Conclusions The study calls for a more balanced approach which evaluates attitudes toward both younger and older adults as potential sources of threat. Attention should be paid to individual- and national-level characteristics associated with age-based threats (e.g., the perception of a group, defined by its chronological age, as threatening).

The Role of Cognitive Discrepancy Between Perception of National Character and Personality in the Functioning and Adaptation of 46 Countries: An Exploratory Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 412-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel David ◽  
Silviu Andrei Matu ◽  
Oana Alexandra David ◽  
Antonio Terracciano
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Distortions ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
National Income ◽  
National Character ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Discrepancy Measure ◽  
Distorted Cognitions ◽  
The Individual

The role of distorted cognitions in human functioning/adaptation is well-established at the individual level. We argue that the discrepancy between perceived national character and the actual national character (i.e., personality traits) is a form of distorted cognition at the group/country level and thus could have a negative impact on the functioning/adaptation of a given country. In this study, we computed this discrepancy score (the perceived national character minus the actual national character) and correlated it to indicators of functioning/adaptation in 46 countries. Results showed that the overestimation of national character (a higher score on the discrepancy measure) is associated with lower life satisfaction, lower autonomy, lower human development, and lower peacefulness at the country level. These results were maintained even after controlling for the effect of economic development, indexed as gross national income. Distorted cognitions related to national character shared by citizens are not only a scientific curiosity, but they might also have more practical implications for the country’s positioning on the global stage. These findings set the ground for a new topic of research investigating the role of such cognitive distortions.

scholarly journals Farm productive realities and the dynamics of bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) transmission

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Iotti ◽  
Eugenio Valdano ◽  
Lara Savini ◽  
Luca Candeloro ◽  
Armando Giovannini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Dispersion ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
National Level ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
Bovine Viral Diarrhea ◽  
Metapopulation Model ◽  
Viral Diarrhea ◽  
Cattle Movement ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Movement Data

AbstractBovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) is a viral disease that affects cattle and that is endemic to many European countries. It has a markedly negative impact on the economy, through reduced milk production, abortions, and a shorter lifespan of the infected animals. Cows becoming infected during gestation may give birth to Persistently Infected (PI) calves, which remain highly infective throughout their life, due to the lack of immune response to the virus. As a result, they are the key driver of the persistence of the disease both at herd scale, and at the national level. In the latter case, the trade-driven movements of PIs, or gestating cows carrying PIs, are responsible for the spatial dispersion of BVD. Past modeling approaches to BVD transmission have either focused on within-herd or between-herd transmission. A comprehensive portrayal, however, targeting both the generation of PIs within a herd, and their displacement throughout the Country due to trade transactions, is still missing. We overcome this by designing a multiscale metapopulation model of the spatial transmission of BVD, accounting for both within-herd infection dynamics, and its spatial dispersion. We focus on Italy, a country where BVD is endemic and seroprevalence is very high. By integrating simple within-herd dynamics of PI generation, and the highly-resolved cattle movement dataset available, our model requires minimal arbitrary assumptions on its parameterization. Notwithstanding, it accurately captures the dynamics of the BVD epidemic, as demonstrated by the comparison with available prevalence data. We use our model to study the role of the different productive realities of the Italian market, and test possible intervention strategies aimed at prevalence reduction. We find that dairy farms are the main drivers of BVD persistence in Italy, and any control strategy targeting these farms would lead to significantly higher prevalence reduction, with respect to targeting other production compartments. Our multiscale metapopulation model is a simple yet effective tool for studying BVD dispersion and persistence at country level, and is a good instrument for testing targeted strategies aimed at the containment or elimination of this disease. Furthermore, it can readily be applied to any national market for which cattle movement data is available.

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