Essays on Social Comparison

摘要: Paper 1: By using hypothetical choice experiments, this paper presents evidence that individuals’ concern for relative consumption depends on their consumption. Individuals with levels above society’s average level tend to have, in general, lower This supports Duesenberry’s (Duesenberry, 1949) notion people are more concerned upward social comparison than downward comparison. 2: a closed form function an individual when his utility both own current and previous the by relevant others. Given model, I argue we can introduce alternative definition of marginal propensity consume (MPC) addition traditional definition. be called individual’s total MPC, which show is smaller MPC. 3: Based Swedish survey evidence, professors happier lecturers; but employed academics better self-reported publication lists not colleagues. Both absolute wage seem affect happiness. Employed who earn faculty colleagues same academic position gender also happier. For those just started careers, results students relatively exam classmates. Moreover, it seems optimal students’ happiness study 30-40 hours per week. or worse likely think they will future lists. finding similar students: Students classmates results. Hence, while performance does happiness, negatively correlated expected 4: Campbell Mankiw’s(1990) lambda model has frequently been used estimate fraction rule thumb consumers (i.e., do smooth consumption). However, present note shows theoretically, as well numerical illustration, existing empirical applications imply systematic under estimation fraction. The reason capita values instead aggregate (which designed for) used. 5: Being sick listed always identical being ill; rather behaviour associated illness. In have analysed whether there higher risk becoming if family member earlier – partly phenomenon. aspect listing never investigated before. Our indicate 2007 was he/she had members 2006. may sign “sick culture” norms within families.