Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/74210 
Year of Publication: 
2006
Series/Report no.: 
Nota di Lavoro No. 38.2006
Publisher: 
Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), Milano
Abstract: 
Research evidence on the impact of relative income position on individual attitudes and behaviour is sorely lacking. Therefore, this paper assesses such positional impact on social capital by applying 14 different measurements to International Social Survey Programme data from 25 countries. We find support for a positional concern effect or ‘envy’ whose magnitude in several cases is quite substantial. The results indicate that such an effect is non-linear. In addition, we find an indication that absolute income level is also relevant. Lastly, changing the reference group (regional versus national) produces no significant differences in the results.
Subjects: 
Relative Income Position
Envy
Positional Concerns
Social Capital
Social Norms
Happiness
JEL: 
Z13
H26
I31
D00
D60
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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