The Relationship between Political Attitudes and Life Satisfaction in Europe: An Econometric Analysis

Yıl 2023, Cilt: 24 Sayı: 2, 440 - 451, 10.08.2023

İbrahim Kuran , Emre Özer , İrem Sayıl

https://doi.org/10.17494/ogusbd.1294283

Öz

This study examines the relationship between political attitudes and individuals’ life satisfaction. While there is a massive body of literature on the political economy of subjective well-being, no study has focused directly on political engagement (interest in politics) and political orientation (ideology). To fill this gap in the current literature, the present study investigates the impact of political engagement and orientation on individual life satisfaction through regression analysis (OLS and 2SLS methods) using the European Social Survey dataset. Our initial findings (as well as the results of the Durbin-Wu-Hausman test) point out the endogeneity problem for political orientation. In order to overcome the endogeneity problem, the instrumental variable estimation and the Stock-Watson test were conducted. Our results show that political engagement and orientation have a statistically significant influence on personal life satisfaction. Accordingly, as individuals' political engagement increases, life satisfaction decreases. Second, life satisfaction increases as one moves from left to right on the political spectrum.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Life satisfaction, political engagement, political orientation, ideology

Avrupa'da Siyasi Tutum ve Yaşam Memnuniyeti Arasındaki İlişki: Ekonometrik Bir Analiz

Öz

Bu çalışma genel olarak bireylerin siyasi tutumları ile yaşam memnuniyetleri arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektedir. Mutluluğun ekonomi politiği üzerine geniş bir literatür olmasına rağmen doğrudan siyasi bağlılık (siyasete ilgi) ve siyasi yönelime (ideoloji) odaklanan bir çalışma mevcut değildir. Literatürdeki bu boşluğu doldurmak amacıyla, bu çalışma Avrupa Sosyal Araştırması veri setini kullanarak regresyon analizi (OLS ve 2SLS yöntemleri) yoluyla siyasi ilgi ve yönelimin bireysel yaşam memnuniyeti üzerindeki etkisini araştırmaktadır. İlk bulgularımız (ve Durbin-Wu-Hausman testi sonucu) siyasi yönelim için içsellik sorununa işaret etmektedir. İçsellik sorununun üstesinden gelmek için araç değişken tahmini ve Stock-Watson testi yapılmıştır. Sonuçlarımız, siyasi ilgi ve yönelimin kişisel yaşam memnuniyeti üzerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir etkiye sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Buna göre, ilk olarak, bireylerin siyasete ilgileri arttıkça yaşam memnuniyetleri azalmaktadır. İkinci olarak, siyasi yelpazede soldan sağa doğru gidildikçe bireylerin yaşam memnuniyeti artmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Yaşam memnuniyeti, siyasi bağlılık, siyasi yönelim, ideoloji

Kaynakça

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