Table A1. Alternative Scaling of Survey Responses
World Values Survey: World Values Survey: Gallup World Poll:
Happiness Life satisfaction Life satisfaction
|
Verbal |
Simple |
Standard -ized |
Our |
Simple |
Standard- |
Our |
Simple |
Standard -ized |
Our |
|
Not at all happy |
1 |
-2.70 |
-2.41 |
1 |
-2.24 |
-2.27 |
0 |
-2.37 |
-2.65 |
|
Not very happy |
2 |
-1.35 |
-1.32 |
2 |
-1.84 |
-1.73 |
1 |
-1.92 |
-2.06 |
|
Quite happy |
3 |
-0.01 |
-0.05 |
3 |
-1.44 |
-1.41 |
2 |
-1.48 |
-1.65 |
|
Very happy |
4 |
1.34 |
1.33 |
4 |
-1.04 |
-1.12 |
3 |
-1.03 |
-1.20 |
|
5 |
-0.64 |
-0.72 |
4 |
-0.59 |
-0.75 | ||||
|
6 |
-0.24 |
-0.33 |
5 |
-0.14 |
-0.17 | ||||
|
7 |
0.16 |
0.02 |
6 |
0.30 |
0.39 | ||||
|
8 |
0.56 |
0.48 |
7 |
0.75 |
0.83 | ||||
|
9 |
0.96 |
0.98 |
8 |
1.19 |
1.36 | ||||
|
10 |
1.36 |
1.70 |
9 |
1.64 |
1.88 | ||||
|
10 |
2.08 |
2.46 |
Simple coding: Coding fives each category a score equal to its ordered rank.
Standardized values: Values take the simple coding, subtract its mean, and divide by the standard deviation
Our method: Our method involves running an ordered probit of well-being on country × wave fixed effects. Estimates shown are the expected
value of a latent happiness index, conditional on being in each category.
Tables—10