Improving the Programs against Poverty: from Income to Welfare
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18504/pl1835-035-2010Keywords:
poverty, well–being, life satisfaction, subjective well–being, domains of life, Mexico, social programs.Abstract
Many social programs, and most poverty–fighting programs, are based on the assumption that increasing income automatically translates into a raise in well–being. This investigation questions this assumption on the basis of the subjective well–being literature and on empirical analyses from Mexico. It is shown that it is possible to get people out of income poverty without necessarily increasing their well–being. The paper enunciates some general principles that can enhance social programs. It is argued that it is fine to be concerned about getting people out of income poverty, but it is even better to be concerned about placing them in a situation that favors their satisfaction with life.Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
Briant, F. y J. Márquez, 1986, "Educational Status and the Structure of Subjective Weil–Being in Men and Women", Social Psychology Quarterly 49, pp. 142–153.
Bruni, L. y L. Stanca, 2005, "Watching Alone: Relational Goods, Television and Happiness", Bocconi University, documento de trabajo.
Clark, A.E. y A.J. Oswald, 1994, "Unhappiness and Unemployment", The Economic Journal 104, pp. 648–659.
Cummins, R.A., 1996, "The Domains of Life Satisfaction: An Attempt to Order Chaos", Social Indicators Research 38, pp. 303–332.
Das, J. et al., 2005, "Reassessing Conditional Cash Transfer Programs", World Bank Research Observer 20, núm. 1, pp. 57–80.
Deci, E. y R. Ryan, 1985, Intrinsic Motivation and Self–Determination in Human Behavior, Plenum Press.
Diener, E. et al, 1985, "The Satisfaction with Life Scale"', Journal of Personality Assessment 49, pp. 71–75.
Di Telia, R., R. MacCulloch y A. J. Oswald, 2001, "Preferences over Inflation and Unemployment: Evidence from Surveys of Happiness", American Economic Review 91, pp. 335–341.
Doyal, L., y I. Gough, 1991, A Theory of Human Need, Londres, Macmillan.
Easterlin, R., 2001, "Income and Happiness: Towards a Unified Theory", The Economic Journal 111, pp. 465–484.
Evans, M. y J. Kelley, 2004, "Effect of Family Structure on Life Satisfaction: Australian Evidence", Social Indicators Research 69, pp. 303–349.
Ferrer–i–Carbonell, A. y P. Frijters, 2004, "How Important Is Methodology for the Estimates of Determinants of Happiness?", The Economic Journal 114, pp. 641–659.
Frey B. y A. Stutzer, 2000, "Happiness, Economy and Institutions", The Economic Journal 110, pp. 918–938.
Frank, R., 2005, "Does Absolute Income Matter?", en L. Bruni y PL. Porta (eds.), Economics & Happiness: Framing the Analysis, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Furnham, A., 1991, "Work and Leisure Satisfaction", en S. Strack, M. Argyle y N. Schwartz (eds.), Subjective Well–Being, Oxford, Pergamon Press, pp. 235–259. Links ]
Gasper, D., 2007, "Conceptualizing Human Needs and Well–Being", en I. Gough y A. McGregor (eds.), Researching Well–Being in Developing Countries: From Theory to Research, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 47–70.
Gui, B. y R. Sugden (eds.), 2005, Economics and Social Interaction, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Hayes, D. y C. Ross, 1986, "Body and Mind: The Effect of Exercise, Overweight, and Physical Health on Psychological Well–Being", Journal of Health and Social Behavior 27, pp. 387–400.
Kasser, T, 2002, The High Price of Materialism, Boston, MIT Press.
Klumb, P. y M. Perrez, 2004, "Why Time–Sampling Studies Can Enrich Work–Leisure Research", Social Indicators Research 67, pp. 1–10.
Lloyd, K. y C. Auld, 2001, "The Role of Leisure in Determining Quality of Life: Issues of Contents and Measurement", Social Indicators Research 57, pp. 43–71.
Loewenstein, G., y D. Schkade, 1999, "Wouldn't It Be Nice? Predicting Future Feelings", en D. Kahneman, E. Diener, y N. Schwarz (eds.), Foundations of HedonicPsychology: Scientific Perspectives on Enjoyment and Suffering, Nueva York, Russell Sage Foundation.
Lu, L. y C. Hu, 2005, "Personality, Leisure Experiences and Happiness"', Journal of Happiness Studies 6, pp. 325–342.
Orozco, M. y C. Hubert, 2005, "La focalización en el Programa de Desarrollo Humano Oportunidades de México", serie de documentos sobre la protección social, núm. 0531, 57 The World Bank.
Oswald, A.J., 1997, "Happiness and Economic Performance", The Economic Journal107', pp. 1815–1831.
Palomar, J., 2000, "The Development of an Instrument to Measure Quality of Life in Mexico City", Social Indicators Research 50, pp. 187–208.
Parker, S. y E. Skoufias, 2000, "The Impact of Progresa on Work, Leisure and Time Allocation", IFPRI Final Report on Progresa, IFPRI, Washington, DC.
Phelps, C, 2005, "The Evolution of Caring", en L. Bruni y PL. Porta (eds.), Economics & Happiness: Framing the Analysis, Oxford University Press.
Praag, B.M.S. van y A. Ferrer–i–Carbonell, 2004, Happiness Quantified: A Satisfaction Calculus Approach, Oxford University Press.
Praag, B.M.S. van, P. Frijters y A. Ferrer–i–Carbonell, 2003, "The Anatomy of Subjective Well–Being", Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization 51, pp. 29–49.
Rawlings, L. y G. Rubio, 2004, "Evaluating the Impact of Conditional Cash Transfer Programs", World Bank Research Observer 20, núm. 1, pp. 29–55.
Rojas, M., 2009a, "Enhancing Poverty–Abatement Programs: A Subjective Well–Being Contribution", Applied Research in Quality of Life 4(2), pp. 179–199.
Rojas, M., 2009b, Domain–Absentee Persons and their Life Satisfaction Explanatory Structure, working paper.
Rojas, M., 2008a, "X–Inefficiency in the Use of Income to attain Economic Satisfaction", Journal of Socio–Economics 37, pp. 2278–2290.
Rojas, M., 2008b, "Experienced Poverty and Income Poverty in Mexico: A Subjective Well–Being Approach", en World Development 36 (6), pp. 1078–1093.
Rojas, M., 2007, "The Complexity of Well–Being: A Life–Satisfaction Conception and a Domains–of–Life Approach", en I. Gough y A. McGregor (eds.), Researching Well–Being in Developing Countries: From Theory to Research, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 259–280.
Ross, C. y M. Willigen, 1997, "Education and Subjective Quality ofLife", Journal of Health and Social Behavior 38, pp. 275–297.
Ryan, R. y A. Sapp, 2007, "Basic Psychological Needs: A Self–determination Theory Perspective on the Promotion of Wellness across Development and Cultures", en I. Gough y A. McGregor (eds.), Researching Well–Being in Developing Countries: From Theory to Research, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 71–92.
Schor, J., 2002, "Understanding the New Consumerism: Inequality, Emulation and the Erosion of Well–Being", Tijdschrifi voor Sociologie 23(1), pp. 1–14.
Schultz, T.P., 2000, The Impact of Progresa on School Enrollment, IFPRI Final Report on Progresa, Washington, D.C., IFPRI.
Scitovsky, T, 1976, The Joyless Economy: An Inquiry into Human Satisfaction and Consumer Dissatisfaction, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Simone, D. y L. Hersh, 2004, Definir y seleccionar las competencias fundamentales para la vida, México, FCE.
Sirgy, M. y T. Cornwell, 2002, "How Neighborhood Features Affect Quality of Life", Social Indicators Research 59, pp. 79–114.
Stutzer A., 2004, "The Role of Income Aspirations in Individual Happiness", Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization 54, pp. 89–109.
Sugden, R., 2005, "Correspondence of Sentiments: An Explanation of the Pleasure of Social Interaction", en L. Bruni y PL. Po Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Thaler, R., 2000, "From Homo Economics to Homo Sapiens", The Journal of Economic Perspectives 14, núm. 1, pp. 133–141.
Thomas, V., 1990, "Determinants of Global Life Happiness and Marital Happiness in Dual–Career Black Couples", Family Relations 39, pp. 174–178.
Tversky A. y D. Kahneman, 1986, "Rational Choice and the Framing of Decisions", Journal of Business 59, núm. 4, pp. 251–278.
United Nations, 2000, "Resolution Adopted by the General Assembly: United Nations Millennium Declaration", A/RES/55/2, Nueva York, United Nations, 18 de septiembre.
Vanderwater, E. y J. Lansford, 1998, "Influences of Family Structure and Parental Conflict on Children's Well–Being", Family Relations 47, pp. 323–330.
World Bank, 2001, Brazil: An Assessment of the Bolsa Escola Programs, Report 20208–BR Washington, D.C., World Bank.
Yang, O., 2003, "Family Structure and Relation", Social Indicators Research 62, pp. 121–148.
Bruni, L. y L. Stanca, 2005, "Watching Alone: Relational Goods, Television and Happiness", Bocconi University, documento de trabajo.
Clark, A.E. y A.J. Oswald, 1994, "Unhappiness and Unemployment", The Economic Journal 104, pp. 648–659.
Cummins, R.A., 1996, "The Domains of Life Satisfaction: An Attempt to Order Chaos", Social Indicators Research 38, pp. 303–332.
Das, J. et al., 2005, "Reassessing Conditional Cash Transfer Programs", World Bank Research Observer 20, núm. 1, pp. 57–80.
Deci, E. y R. Ryan, 1985, Intrinsic Motivation and Self–Determination in Human Behavior, Plenum Press.
Diener, E. et al, 1985, "The Satisfaction with Life Scale"', Journal of Personality Assessment 49, pp. 71–75.
Di Telia, R., R. MacCulloch y A. J. Oswald, 2001, "Preferences over Inflation and Unemployment: Evidence from Surveys of Happiness", American Economic Review 91, pp. 335–341.
Doyal, L., y I. Gough, 1991, A Theory of Human Need, Londres, Macmillan.
Easterlin, R., 2001, "Income and Happiness: Towards a Unified Theory", The Economic Journal 111, pp. 465–484.
Evans, M. y J. Kelley, 2004, "Effect of Family Structure on Life Satisfaction: Australian Evidence", Social Indicators Research 69, pp. 303–349.
Ferrer–i–Carbonell, A. y P. Frijters, 2004, "How Important Is Methodology for the Estimates of Determinants of Happiness?", The Economic Journal 114, pp. 641–659.
Frey B. y A. Stutzer, 2000, "Happiness, Economy and Institutions", The Economic Journal 110, pp. 918–938.
Frank, R., 2005, "Does Absolute Income Matter?", en L. Bruni y PL. Porta (eds.), Economics & Happiness: Framing the Analysis, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Furnham, A., 1991, "Work and Leisure Satisfaction", en S. Strack, M. Argyle y N. Schwartz (eds.), Subjective Well–Being, Oxford, Pergamon Press, pp. 235–259. Links ]
Gasper, D., 2007, "Conceptualizing Human Needs and Well–Being", en I. Gough y A. McGregor (eds.), Researching Well–Being in Developing Countries: From Theory to Research, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 47–70.
Gui, B. y R. Sugden (eds.), 2005, Economics and Social Interaction, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Hayes, D. y C. Ross, 1986, "Body and Mind: The Effect of Exercise, Overweight, and Physical Health on Psychological Well–Being", Journal of Health and Social Behavior 27, pp. 387–400.
Kasser, T, 2002, The High Price of Materialism, Boston, MIT Press.
Klumb, P. y M. Perrez, 2004, "Why Time–Sampling Studies Can Enrich Work–Leisure Research", Social Indicators Research 67, pp. 1–10.
Lloyd, K. y C. Auld, 2001, "The Role of Leisure in Determining Quality of Life: Issues of Contents and Measurement", Social Indicators Research 57, pp. 43–71.
Loewenstein, G., y D. Schkade, 1999, "Wouldn't It Be Nice? Predicting Future Feelings", en D. Kahneman, E. Diener, y N. Schwarz (eds.), Foundations of HedonicPsychology: Scientific Perspectives on Enjoyment and Suffering, Nueva York, Russell Sage Foundation.
Lu, L. y C. Hu, 2005, "Personality, Leisure Experiences and Happiness"', Journal of Happiness Studies 6, pp. 325–342.
Orozco, M. y C. Hubert, 2005, "La focalización en el Programa de Desarrollo Humano Oportunidades de México", serie de documentos sobre la protección social, núm. 0531, 57 The World Bank.
Oswald, A.J., 1997, "Happiness and Economic Performance", The Economic Journal107', pp. 1815–1831.
Palomar, J., 2000, "The Development of an Instrument to Measure Quality of Life in Mexico City", Social Indicators Research 50, pp. 187–208.
Parker, S. y E. Skoufias, 2000, "The Impact of Progresa on Work, Leisure and Time Allocation", IFPRI Final Report on Progresa, IFPRI, Washington, DC.
Phelps, C, 2005, "The Evolution of Caring", en L. Bruni y PL. Porta (eds.), Economics & Happiness: Framing the Analysis, Oxford University Press.
Praag, B.M.S. van y A. Ferrer–i–Carbonell, 2004, Happiness Quantified: A Satisfaction Calculus Approach, Oxford University Press.
Praag, B.M.S. van, P. Frijters y A. Ferrer–i–Carbonell, 2003, "The Anatomy of Subjective Well–Being", Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization 51, pp. 29–49.
Rawlings, L. y G. Rubio, 2004, "Evaluating the Impact of Conditional Cash Transfer Programs", World Bank Research Observer 20, núm. 1, pp. 29–55.
Rojas, M., 2009a, "Enhancing Poverty–Abatement Programs: A Subjective Well–Being Contribution", Applied Research in Quality of Life 4(2), pp. 179–199.
Rojas, M., 2009b, Domain–Absentee Persons and their Life Satisfaction Explanatory Structure, working paper.
Rojas, M., 2008a, "X–Inefficiency in the Use of Income to attain Economic Satisfaction", Journal of Socio–Economics 37, pp. 2278–2290.
Rojas, M., 2008b, "Experienced Poverty and Income Poverty in Mexico: A Subjective Well–Being Approach", en World Development 36 (6), pp. 1078–1093.
Rojas, M., 2007, "The Complexity of Well–Being: A Life–Satisfaction Conception and a Domains–of–Life Approach", en I. Gough y A. McGregor (eds.), Researching Well–Being in Developing Countries: From Theory to Research, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 259–280.
Ross, C. y M. Willigen, 1997, "Education and Subjective Quality ofLife", Journal of Health and Social Behavior 38, pp. 275–297.
Ryan, R. y A. Sapp, 2007, "Basic Psychological Needs: A Self–determination Theory Perspective on the Promotion of Wellness across Development and Cultures", en I. Gough y A. McGregor (eds.), Researching Well–Being in Developing Countries: From Theory to Research, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 71–92.
Schor, J., 2002, "Understanding the New Consumerism: Inequality, Emulation and the Erosion of Well–Being", Tijdschrifi voor Sociologie 23(1), pp. 1–14.
Schultz, T.P., 2000, The Impact of Progresa on School Enrollment, IFPRI Final Report on Progresa, Washington, D.C., IFPRI.
Scitovsky, T, 1976, The Joyless Economy: An Inquiry into Human Satisfaction and Consumer Dissatisfaction, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Simone, D. y L. Hersh, 2004, Definir y seleccionar las competencias fundamentales para la vida, México, FCE.
Sirgy, M. y T. Cornwell, 2002, "How Neighborhood Features Affect Quality of Life", Social Indicators Research 59, pp. 79–114.
Stutzer A., 2004, "The Role of Income Aspirations in Individual Happiness", Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization 54, pp. 89–109.
Sugden, R., 2005, "Correspondence of Sentiments: An Explanation of the Pleasure of Social Interaction", en L. Bruni y PL. Po Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Thaler, R., 2000, "From Homo Economics to Homo Sapiens", The Journal of Economic Perspectives 14, núm. 1, pp. 133–141.
Thomas, V., 1990, "Determinants of Global Life Happiness and Marital Happiness in Dual–Career Black Couples", Family Relations 39, pp. 174–178.
Tversky A. y D. Kahneman, 1986, "Rational Choice and the Framing of Decisions", Journal of Business 59, núm. 4, pp. 251–278.
United Nations, 2000, "Resolution Adopted by the General Assembly: United Nations Millennium Declaration", A/RES/55/2, Nueva York, United Nations, 18 de septiembre.
Vanderwater, E. y J. Lansford, 1998, "Influences of Family Structure and Parental Conflict on Children's Well–Being", Family Relations 47, pp. 323–330.
World Bank, 2001, Brazil: An Assessment of the Bolsa Escola Programs, Report 20208–BR Washington, D.C., World Bank.
Yang, O., 2003, "Family Structure and Relation", Social Indicators Research 62, pp. 121–148.
Downloads
Published
2010-01-01
Citas a este artículo:
How to Cite
Rojas, M. (2010). Improving the Programs against Poverty: from Income to Welfare. Perfiles Latinoamericanos, 18(35), 35–59. https://doi.org/10.18504/pl1835-035-2010
Issue
Section
Articles
License
Copyright (c) 2010 Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, sede México
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Esta obra está bajo una licencia Atribución-NoComercial 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC 4.0)
